Under 11’s Holland football trip
We look back to some memories and recollections of Gail Horsley, regarding the under 11’s football team and their eventful trip to Holland in 1989.
Back in 1989 my son was part of the Under 11’s football team in Newbold Verdon, ran by Tony and Rhoda Crowfoot, with the help of some of the ‘Dads’.
The team was invited to a tournament in Holland to play against some junior teams there and there was a lot of excitement that we going ‘abroad’ to play football.
Some organising had to take place. Making sure everyone’s passports were up to date, where we were going to stay, booking the coach and ferry, and making sure everyone’s football kit was all present and correct.
The day came that we were due to leave. We all climbed aboard the coach which was parked outside of Dane’s, where the Indian takeaway is now. It was 6 o’clock in the morning and we had a long drive ahead of us before we went aboard the ferry that was to take us to Holland.
To say that the journey by ferry was rough is an understatement. The wind was blowing hard and the
waves were high. I had never seen anyone’s face turn green before, but I did on that trip.
Once off the ferry, we then had to journey by coach to where our hosts were meeting us. You couldn’t fault their hospitality, but after travelling for most of the day, the last thing that I wanted to eat was pea soup!
The boys were staying with families with boys of a similar age, and we then travelled on to the hotel where we were staying in Delft. The thing that I remember most about that hotel is the breakfast, hard boiled eggs every day.
We were able to do some sight- seeing and spent time in Amsterdam, which was eventful in itself. We toured the canal and before we had lunch, we decided to go for a walk alongside the canal and window shop. We then turned down a street and started down what we thought was the back of the shops, only to find ourselves in the red light district. It was a case of eyes forward and quick march, but we did laugh about it later.
When it came to play in the tournament, we realised that while our boys were all aged 11, the junior football teams in Holland had boys of different ages and some of their boys were teenagers and looked like young men. We were concerned for the boys’ safety but decided to go ahead as it would be good
experience for our lads.
The spectators were going wild, even the other Dutch teams were shouting us on with cries of, “come on Englanders”
There was an indoor 5-a-side game of football with our boys having 2 teams, so everyone had a turn. Then came the main tournament. Our team won through to the knockout stages to face the champions, the “Flamingoes”, in the final. Newbold’s football strip was much admired being silver grey with a red trim and matching socks. Also, the parents’ scarves and hats, which were made by Geraldine Harris, were much admired. So much so, that we had to leave some of them behind and Geraldine had to make some more when she returned to Newbold.
The match was very exciting as the Flamingoes had rarely lost a match, they had a clubroom full of trophies to attest to that. The game started and we were 2-0 down at half-time. Our boys were given a pep talk and came out fighting in the second half. Soon we scored 2 goals, I think by Lee Harris and Gary Battle.
The spectators were going wild, even the other Dutch teams were shouting us on with cries of, “come on Englanders” ringing around the pitch, and in the dying seconds of the game Lee Matson, on his birthday, scored the winning goal, and we won 3-2: Roy of the Rovers eat your heart out!
The celebrations didn’t just stop there. The ‘dads’ played a five-a-side match and drew with their opponents and the ‘mums’ played darts and won. What a day! We celebrated that evening and there was even Birthday cake which had been made by Lee’s mum Sheila and she had carried it all the way from
England.
The journey home was a lot smoother and we left Holland with a Winner’s cup, medals and unforgettable memories.”
Front Row: Dave Hill, Lee Harris, Gary Battle, Mark Walsh and Sam Greasley.
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