After months of meticulous planning the tour was upon us. With a detailed itinerary planned to within an inch of its life we departed Cheltenham a little late at 5:30. With two minibuses loaded with boys, kit, dads, iphones, blackberries, ipads and laptops, spirits were high.
With a breakdown on the M42 we decided on the A46, Simon driving the lead vehicle and Mark following. We were making good time as we approached Coventry when we got a text message advising us that the tournament we were entered into on Saturday was cancelled due to the weather. Some quick phone calls and we managed to corral the local team that was hosting us into a series of matches to be played on Saturday early afternoon.
We continued and as we hit Leicester things went a little awry. The Sat-Nav in the lead vehicle had run out of power and so 'driving blind' they ploughed into Leicester. A quick phone call and we swapped positions on the road rectifying the situation.
The rest of the journey was pretty uneventful with only a few murmurs of “are we nearly there yet” from the lads in the back.
Arriving at the Premier Inn (where everything is Premier except the price) we decided that we would eat and then check in. Dinner for the lads could be best summed up as you can have anything you like so long as it’s orange. Chips, fried fish and chicken were abundant. There was a comment that some of them had added some peas to their plates but i think that was vicious rumour. The dad’s started as they meant to go on with a few pies being consumed and a couple of beers. After dinner the boys went and played in the soft play area (ahhhh) before taking it outside for a game of take-down bulldog. Luckily they were all wearing chino’s which don’t show muddy or grass stains on the knees...
The plan for the next day was hatched with breakfast for 8:30/9 then bowling for an hour before heading to the pitch where we were to play some matches.
Breakfast was another buffet extravanganza, with cereals, fruit, croissants and full english available. The lads were very restrained enjoying fruit salad, a small pastry and slice of toast. Sorry i meant they all had coco-pops and full english. Except Finn who seeming adopting the Atkins diet had a packet of bacon, assuming packets have 7 slices in them. Continuing the caveman theme he dispensed with the need for cutlery as he tore his way through....
On to the bowling alley where we had three lanes for an hour, some great displays with Freddie top scoring getting 97 and 104 in each game, contrast to George who despite a lovely bowling action and real determination to win scored 16. Actually George was barely throwing the balls down the alley opting i assume to save his energy for the football.
With the bowling over we headed to the school that had the 3G pitch where we would be playing against a team from Caythorpe and Fulbeck FC (http://www.cfjfc.net/). The format would be that we would split both sides into two 5-a-side teams and play a round robin of 20minute matches. Daniel would join one of the C&F teams playing with his mate Johnny.
The LRFC Cougars teams were split as follows:
Team 1 - Will-I-Am, Jordan, Paddy, Finn, Freddie and Luca.
Team 2 - Harvey*, Jacob, Fergus, George, Sam and Lucas.
*Harvey played in goal as between Friday night and Saturday morning something happened meaning he couldn’t bend his knee. Despite that he did not concede a goal in the 5-a-sides and only 2 in the following 10 v 10.
Both teams were unbeaten against the C&F teams with the Cougars team 2 beating team 1 comprehensively in what could be considered the final. Lucas, although only 9, took part showing great confidence and scoring a couple of goals.
There was then a break for some lunch (purchased from the local Tesco) followed by a cross bar challenge with the LRFC Cougars playing against the C&F team. C&F won hitting the crossbar a couple of times and with the Cougars failing to register a hit. By way of consolation Brian, the C&F coach threw the lads a bag of mini-chocolates which Freddie caught. In a scene like something from Benny Hill he set off at pace being chased by the other lads. I can honestly say Freddie has never run that far that fast. He was eventually caught in the changing rooms where all the lads emerged with a bar...
The final football was to be a 10 v 10 with Daniel again lining up for C&F. This was to be a quick game of 10 minutes each way. The full size pitch was condensed and ended up almost as wide as it was long. The Cougars started very raggedly, panicking in possession and playing long balls blindly forward only to see them come straight back at us. The C&F players were mush stronger to win the ball and scored two good goals against us. We ran out 3-2 winners with goals from Sam (who struck a lovely shot from wide right), Luca (put through by Finn beat the keeper at the near post) and Will-I-Am who scored emphatically bursting through from midfield.
Daniel, playing for the opposition came close twice, first having a shot cleared off the line and secondly hitting the post with a lovely strike.
With the football over we headed to the C&F club house where they had laid on some food, had a well stocked bar and more importantly a TV that at any point had the egg-chasing, sorry rugby, cricket and latterly the Netherlands V Denmark Euro 2012 match. With dads parked in the bar the lads took a well earned rest and sat peacefully watching the match on TV sipping isotonic drinks. That’s what they should have done - what they actually did was play rugby, take-down bulldog and football ont he green finishing with a game of cricket. Again it was lucky that they had opted for chino’s particularly for the rugby match.
Heading back to the hotel after the game the lads were deposited into rooms to watch the football and relax. The dads watching the game in the bar. As the evening progressed some of the lads were a little more restless and came down to the bar and restaurant. With another buffet on the go a group of 4 headed in to the restaurant and started looking at the food. Mark followed them in and asked what they were doing? As Finn grabbed a handful of chips he replied, “but kids eat free”! (yes they do they just need an adult to be buying a meal to!)
The plan for Sunday was similar, breakfast for 8:30 then a drive back to the pitch for an 11 v 11 match against the C&F Sunday team. This was to be played on a full size pitch. With Harvey’s knee sorting itself out Will was restored to goal and Harvey on the bench just to give him some time. The morning was considerably quieter with all the lads feeling the exertions from the previous day. Finn enjoyed another plate of bacon for breakfast.
The warm up for the match started very slow. The boys did some jogging, plenty of stretching and gently building to match pace.
We lined up with Will in goal, a back four of Sam, George, Jordan and Paddy (from left to right) there were then two holding midfielders Jacob and Freddie. Finn wide right, Luca wide left Daniel up front and Fergus as the libero in the number 10 position.
What characterised the 10 v 10 game was the the lads panicked in possession and played it blindly long. This game could not have been more of a contrast. They played a consistent passing game for the whole match and enjoyed a huge chunk of the overall possession.
The game however took an interesting start. With the Cougars dominating possession in and around the C&F penalty area there were no clear cut chances.
The first break by the C&F team led to a goal - 1-0. This pattern continued for the next goal with, again on the break C&F scoring well to put themselves 2-0 up. The lads didn’t panic or change their approach. Freddie, struggling with his heel, made way for Harvey who settled in alongside Jacob and put in an excellent display. The reward came shortly before half time with Daniel scoring from close range. His initial shot taking a deflection that slowed it enough that it needed to be chased in to make sure.
Half time 2-1.
Second half kicked off and the instruction was simple, to continue playing the same. The goals came in a flurry. Daniel scored early on finishing well from inside the box. Another goal followed quickly with Luca latching onto a through ball from Jacob, bombing down the left wing then opening his body to finish right footed over the keeper. Daniel would complete his hat-trick and go on to get a 4th, showing timing and predatory instincts.
Paddy was playing right back but was barely in that position, he ran himself ragged supporting defence, midfield and attack at every opportunity. He scored a memorable goal but probably more memorable was the chance he created for himself that fell to his left foot. Rather than take it on he ran around the ball and struck with his right to see it saved. His father then yelled from the touchline “use your left foot you lunatic” to much laughter all round.
The game finished 6-2 with the Cougars fitness and pace the telling factor at the end of the match. There were strong performances in every department. Paddy was out-standing, Harvey coming on in the middle had an excellent game playing intelligently albeit with Simon on his shoulder keeping him in the right place. Ditto Finn who playing wide right was being ‘coached’ extensively. Jordan and George in the heart of defence were excellent and continued their form the season. Will, in goal, could do nothing really with the goals but had to keep concentration as the C&F players took long shots and played in high balls. Luca and Sam formed a great partnership on the left linking to great effect, utilising Sam’s full range of passing and Luca’s pace. Jacob was everywhere and ran the game from the middle as he so often does. Fergus showed how much we miss him by linking play so well between midfield and attack where Daniel was rampant. If we give him the service he will score as he showed again today.
After the match we had a picnic in the car-park (with more Tesco sandwiches) before starting the drive home.
There was time for a quick stop at the Lord Ted pub for a drink before the last 2 hours of the journey were undertaken. The boys considerably quieter on the way back than they were on the way!
We arrived in Cheltenham around 5 where the boys were met by eager parents.
A fantastic tour that went off without a single issue. The boys behaved impeccably as did the dad’s. We keep saying it but we are very lucky.
So what did we learn this weekend?
We learned that Tony is a more aggressive driver than Mark, we learned that directions do not matter if you are called Simon. We learned that Finn likes bacon. A lot. We learned that Freddie likes croissants. That 12 year old boys don’t need showers. That chino’s are a very versatile sports garment. That Jordan likes to change his clothes. A lot. That George doesn’t really warm to bowling. That Lucas doesn’t want to play for the Cougars because he starts games from the bench. That Simon can be heard above all else. That we are good technical team. That we can head a ball. That we can defend properly. That we have out-standing front players. That we are better than we perhaps thought. That next season’s tour will be to Barcelona.
A massive thanks to the hospitality of C&F FC who hosted us brilliantly and to ##### School for renting us their pitch at mates-rates.
Also a massive thank-you to Mark for organising this tour and being very generous in paying for everything ;)
A great time was had by all - next time will be even better!
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