Let's face it, playing football with work colleagues can be a bit of a minefield. Will everyone end up being shockingly, shockingly bad (you know, kicking the ball with a straight leg bad)? Will one of your otherwise quiet (and it is always the quiet ones) work buddies turn into a rampaging lunatic once he pulls a footy top over his head? Or, will everyone gel together to form a seamless, total-football playing unit?

And I can report, with some level of uncharacteristic smugness, that the latter was the case when the all new Octopus United squad took to the hallowed Astroturf of Slough Powerleague for its recent match up with Gorkana FC.

What struck me about the team though, the elements of which were fished deep from the full Octopus Group talent pool of Octopus, Rocket and Loudhouse, were the undoubted, and not at all tenuous, parallels between each individual's playing style and how they operate at work.

Starting in goals we had Ceri, our money man, who marshalled the team like an end of financial year profit and loss spreadsheet, getting down to stop shots with a fervour previously reserved for a pound coin rolling perilously towards a storm drain. Or Big Tom Holland, who quietly but determinedly went about his business at the back, while also finding the net with some calmly slotted finishes into the corners. And then there was Dan Tinker, the research specialist and midfield dynamo, who had, within seconds, assessed, measured, and conducted a Share of Voice analysis on the opposition, ensuring immediate and total domination across the park. Julian Moore - the Octopus new biz man - got around the pitch and all up in our hapless opponents' grills with relentless enthusiasm and energy like a rabid Tasmanian Devil. Just like he does when he gets a sniff of a RFP. Or our MD, Jon Lon, who was at the centre of everything, deftly delegating the ball to all, spotting the key opportunities and giving it the eyes where appropriate. Meanwhile Steve Spencer, the fresh young legs of the team brought high powered dynamism to all corners of the pitch, like he does to an err... pitch. And finally, Jon White; rangy, fit and covering more ground than a large wedding marquee. Clearly running out of similes here, so hope you've got the general idea.

Bottom line is that everyone brought something to the party, just like they do during the day job. Which is why the Octopus Group is an amazing place to work and why Octopus United is already a footballing force to be reckoned with. Just ask Gorkana who got rinsed like a flannel 12-8.

Tommy

Footnote: We are gagging for games! Anyone fancy one? Give @octopuscomms a shout if you do...