Waldridge Park JFC

Easter Open 2024

It is difficult to sum up in a typed document just how valuable the Easter trips are to teams who compete in it. The results, score-lines, placings and photos give a wealth of information, but the tournament is about so much more. If you can talk to someone- anyone- who has been then ask them all about their experience. Coaches, parents, but most of all players gain so much from the tour. Very few people return home and say they don’t fancy another pop at it.

On to Westray, it appears most who travelled want to go back for a second bite. It wasn’t ever going to be easy facing six, perhaps seven half hour games over two days and especially not with only fourteen players. However, this is a remarkable group who have a great pedigree and history. Remarkable is a good way to summarise the events of the long weekend.

The first great bonus was when veteran of three previous trips Brian Waites made himself available for this trip. Shortly after, he messaged that he would ask if Harrison would guest for Westray. The trip has often been perceived as a “lads and dads” event, but the presence of Milly, Lisa and Vikki added hugely to the trip. This is a family event that really benefits the esprit de corps of the the teams which travel.

The outward ferry journey would best be described as ‘choppy’ with some strong winds and powerful waves, but the Princess cut her way through it. The ferries are well equipped with entertainment and a number of the players chose to watch the Bob Marley film in the on-board cinema. A few escaped early “Too much singing” was their synopsis. Barry Norman was said to be spinning in his grave… and why not?

The journey from Ijmuiden to Brabant province near the German border took longer than expected and eventually we arrived at Het Meerdal Centreparcs. Newer than our old haunt Limburgse Peel and bigger too. We swear the chalets we had were in Germany, whilst reception was in The Netherlands. Our two grizzled veterans showed their experience. John commandeered a wheelbarrow for luggage. Brian adopted a four wheel trolley. Suitcases, food supplies and ‘refreshments’ were relayed to the stalags.

Saturday saw a half hour travel to Wanroij, with Constantia the host club. What a venue, what a welcome, what a beautiful setting. Westray, like Norton before them, were perhaps still marvelling at the welcome and the venue when the opening game started. One minute in, the referee (perhaps John Jensen of Arsenal and Denmark) inexplicably decided to punish Mason for a clean tackle. The more experienced European campaigners felt that the force used went against Mason. However, John Jenson told Mason he got the man first, which is frankly nonsense. The opposition, Baring Nr Aaby from Denmark tucked the spot kick away. Westray remained a little dreamy, but were better territorially and on the ball. Baring struck again with a lightning fast break. The Westray crew were then subject to some stout defending, with Brooklyn subjected to studs down the shin and Dan Spoors lifted off his feet. Dan S went close, Dan Lines saw a cross shot float wide. As the clock ticked down a ball was slowly retrieved from an irrigation channel. Then the ball was stuck behind a flag on an adjacent panel.  Westray were dominant and Baring were on the ropes, Nathan offering deep defensive cover. Not a second of added time was given. The Norwegians win 2-0. We talked it through, Westray are notoriously slow starters, the blasting music was a distraction and Baring are a good team. Those in the know tipped Baring to win the tournament.

In the second game, we moved to the main pitch and the surface was fabulous, as the lads faced the hosts Constantia. From the first moment to the last Westray were dominant in every respect. Mason had one shot to monitor, which was powerful, but wide. The whole squad played their part in shifting the ball and causing the hosts to chase shadows. Dan S opened the scoring and from that point, the heat map would be all in one half. Dan L was a pest and turned the ball over repeatedly in our favour. Oliver and Theo T were imperious at the back and that released Jacob to play as whatever he wished to be. Angus and then Harrison dug in as midfield spring boards allowing Joe and Ben to get at the home team. Theo R picked up the second striker role and terrorised Constantia with his fresh legs. His goal was deserved reward for his industry. Matthew added a third with a late drift into the box, announcing our time to rest our captain and leader. Nathan strode into the play, beat two players and unleashed a sweet left foot drive against the apex. Dan L, Joe, Harrison, Brooklyn and Ben (who shone the whole weekend) all had chances to extend the advantage. Joe was scissored to the ground by two home defenders on the stroke of the half hour… the whistle sounds… PENALTY! Nope, it was full time. Westray win 3-0.

Back to pitch B and Westray faced another Danish team, Albertslund, who lined up with three giants and a generally very short team. Perhaps the lads underestimated them. Perhaps expectations were now high. Dan S opened the scoring. Chances came. Chances went. The music blared. The referee kept the kettle boiling and play flowing. Did it suit us? Did it suit Albertslund? Who can be sure, although it did suit the game as a whole. On reflection, Mason was good value for his second clean sheet and Westray had a fairly controlled 1-0 win.

We downloaded the tournament app and returned to Centreparcs after lunch time. The lads went swimming and bowling whilst we arranged a get together to eat at a burger place in the resort. As results came in, the Sunday page was populated. Westray were placed in Group 1-8 pool A. Blimey. Group 1-8 pool A play three games, then the top team faces the top team in Group 1-8 pool B. That settles first and second. The two pool runners up then play off to decide third and fourth. All the other teams were group winners, Westray were the only Saturday runners up. Having experienced this with Norton ten years earlier, this was a daunting prospect.

The Sunday games were in the afternoon. We travelled to Gennep, to face Abbey Lane from Dronfield near Sheffield, Musselburgh Windsor and Baring Nr Aaby. John recounted when the Scotland manager Andy Roxburgh watched Pele pull Sweden and Brazil out for the 1990 World cup group “I could have jumped up and throttled the great man” Roxburgh said.

Westray donned the Sunday kits and looked fabulous. Photos were taken and the warm up commenced. On it went. And on further. After fifty minutes of warming up, Abbey Lane were nowhere to be seen. Westray were awarded a single goal win. As we sat in the stand and prepared for the second tilt at Baring, the Abbey Lane coaches burst over full of blousy excuses and misplaced indignance. They had designs on sweeping all before them.  Why do some people with very good teams think rules don’t apply to them? We declined the offer to play the game out of schedule, so the Abbey Lane coaches quickly became impolite and accusatory.

Saturday night had been full of player discussion about ways to tackle the Baring threat, changes in formation and shape were key topics. This was superb! Well done lads. John had a new plan, but no change of formation. However, a different way to play was shared as Smokey blasted out their foul-mouthed query regarding their long term neighbour Alice over the tannoy.

The game could not have been more different. The referee was no longer a dead ringer for John Jensen, but a doppelganger for Harry Kane. Westray were no phoneys though, they were the real deal. The back line had specific and cerebral instructions that they delivered exactly. The strikers had a new plan to expose a weakness in the previously imperious Baring centre halves. The holding midfielders and wing backs became essential to the defensive effort. Ben exited having yomped up and down. Angus, Matty and in particular Harrison were superb in dropping in and operating as pivots launching attacks that left Baring with spinning heads. We hit a post. We had a few shots wide. Then the moment of the tournament came and Dan S played in Brooklyn to achieve his personal goal with a nutmeg on the keeper to give Westray a well-deserved lead. Baring were barely bothering Mason, who was impeccable again in the few things he had to do. From short distance, a ball was driven at Matthew’s chest  and Harry Kane incorrectly awarded a free kick for handball. This was around thirty-seven yards from goal and not a particularly evident threat. Up stepped the Baring captain to smash a simply unbelievable and astonishing thunderbolt plum into the top corner. What a goal! What a kick in the nuts. Nonetheless, Westray pressed on. Chances were all at the Baring end. Dan L streaked clear and had a shot saved. Joe had the entire Baring right flank pinned back in fear of his running. All things considered, a point was a great vindication. Thirty minutes came and went. Harry Kane added an unjustified seven minutes of time as Westray pushed and pushed their physical limits. Bring back Faxe… 1-1 was scant reward for the effort, endeavour and enterprise shown by Westray. That said; the lads all felt vindicated.

The third game was officiated by the Harry Kane alike again. Musselburgh thanked us for swapping tops and from that point all seemed well. Harry Kane had other ideas. Club assistants took up the flags, only to be moved around (needlessly) by the referee. The game rattled into action with both teams keen to finish the group with a win. The game was developing well as a contest when the referee began to whistle for anything and everything, whilst still missing some fouls. Dan S went close with a shot from inside right, Mason made a great save and blocks and key headers came from Theo T, Oliver, Jacob and Dan L. Joe was causing all manner of issues for Musselburgh, when they broke. Nathan performed a great tackle (all ball) that Harry Kane punished with a free kick. The free kick was driven against the well set wall and ballooned off a shoulder to leave Mason stranded. Seconds later, a Scottish midfielder put the muscle in Musselburgh and tangled with Nathan. Nathan tangled back, only to be wrestled to the floor. Somehow, rather than talking to the players, Nathan and his opposite number were sin-binned (all yellows are sin bins) whilst Harrison followed them for something that evaded others. Soon after, a second Musselburgh player walked for reasons as yet to be discovered. Nathan and Harrison quickly returned to the pitch only for Harry Kane to stride over to Keith Sanderson and remove the flag from him, just as the players on the pitch had managed to get on with some football. The game was abandoned as the referee stalked back to the clubhouse. What on Earth had Keith done? As people milled around to try and settle their understanding, it became clear Keith was as innocent as we’d have expected.

A Mussleburgh parent had enquired if the referee had even seen a game of football before. By the time the collected coaches had reached the clubhouse, the parent was accused of a threat of violence to the referee. That wasn’t the case. The game was stood at 0-1 with four minutes left. We played the final chunk on a different pitch, with a competent referee whilst Abbey Lane watched on and showed their partisan support for Musselburgh. Nobody with any sense could see how Westray had become pantomime villains. The last knockings were played out at great pace and with integrity and fine attitudes, but no further goals. 0-1 Musselburgh. Players and coaches from both teams combined for a huddle and a photograph. Remarkable.

Four points on the Sunday left Westray fifth overall in the tournament. A fabulous achievement. Had either free kick not been incorrectly awarded, Westray would have been in the play-offs. Nil nil versus Musselburgh would have seen Westray in the third/ fourth play-off, as it is the lads missed out on goal difference. Had the free kick in the Baring game not been awarded, Westray would have been top of the group and in the first/ second play-off. Baring won that game on penalties and took the cup. So near, but yet so far.

We travelled back to centreparcs to celebrate a birthday and to hand out the medals. Bonds were made and deepened. What a trip.

To round it all off, our driver (and companion) Keith was a semi-retired and very experienced driver appointed by the travel company. As we pulled up at The Whitehills, he took a moment to address us all. This was the best short trip he had ever been on. He said if we travel next year to ask for him. He had a great time with us.

Insurance Details:

https://www.rayburntours.com/financial-security/

https://www.rayburntours.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Travel-Policy-Wording.pdf

https://www.rayburntours.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Travel-Summary.pdf

https://www.rayburntours.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Rayburn-Tours-Ltd-2023-Schedule.pdf

https://easteropen.com/en/easter-open-zuid-deelnemers/ 

Please check out the tournament website:

http://easteropen.com/en/easter-open-zuid/

Having visited Oploo, Wanroij, Uden, Stevensbeek, Odilliapeel and St Hubert, our Chair John Lines can personally vouch for the quality of the facilities and the warmth of the welcome.

https://www.vvexcellent.nl/

https://www.constantiawanroij.nl/

https://www.fcuden.nl/

http://svs-stevensbeek.nl/voetbal/

https://www.rksvodiliapeel.nl/

https://www.dwsh18.nl/

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The tournament runs over two days, with three group games at one venue on the Saturday and three graded group games usually at another venue on Easter Sunday. The opportunity to play teams from other cultures and countries is one to savour, we have played opponents from Holland, Belgium, Germany, Scotland, America, Denmark, Sweden and even Luton.

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Travel is usually from Chester-le-street via coach to the North Shields ferry terminal. After an overnight journey, we board the coach again to travel to CentreParcs. Our regular resort is Limburgse Peel: https://www.centerparcs.nl/nl-nl/nederland/fp_LH_vakantiepark-limburgse-peel

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The resort has a number of six bed cottages (three twin rooms) which are perfect for our needs.

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Travel home is on Bank Holiday Monday, again via coach and ferry, arriving back on Tuesday.

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We can and will operate fundraising activities to enable the trip.