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Bridgwater based under 15's community football team RHODE LANE WANDERERS from the town's Hamp estate, have just returned from a succesful tour of the Czech Republic. The boys won 3 of their 4 games and visited the Czech Capital Prague, the industrial city of Kladno and Bridgwater's twin town Uherske Hradiste.
The teams first match was against SPARTA KLADNO. A gamed organised by Zdena Biggsova, whose Czech teachers had recently visited Scotland with the Bridgwater Czech Friendship Society and wanted to help out after the planned Prague 6 game fell through (due to the none replies from Mayor Chalupa to our requests for support). Rhode Lane won the game 5.1 and afterwards were treated to a school meal.
Game 2 was against the STARE MESTO AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL in Uherske Hradiste. The ground- bumpy,uneven and featuring a running track for a touchline, was home to a 6.1 victory this time for the Hamp boys and the school provided us with a social evening featuring Moravian folk music and refreshments. This was organised by Jana Hubena.
During the same day the group visited the FC SLOVACKO football stadium and were allowed to play ice hockey in the nearby Zimni Stadium. Afterwards they were received by the Vice Mayor of UH mr Evgen Uher and their captain Joe Walsh was interviewed on Local TV.
Midfield dynamo Johnny Arthurs prepares to intercept a Buchlovice breakthrough
The 3rd game was in the nearby village of Buchlovice. Here the school was in the process of a pen pal project with the Bridgwater school St.Mary's under the auspices of teacher Jana Branecka, who organised this part of the tour.
The whole school turned out for the game on the village teams pitch which remained a tight 1.1 until the last 10 minutes when Rhode Lanes stamina gained them the upper hand and 2 quick goals led to a 3.1 victory.
The Bridgwater group took the opportunity to visit the 17th century Chateau which dominates Buchlovice and in the evening were entertained to a jazz music session from the school band JAZZGANG.
Rhode Lanes secret weapon-the long throws of Lloyd Johnson
The last game of the tour,organised by local teacher Kristyna Partisova, was the toughest. Playing the top local school team of ZA ALEJI -whose captain alone had scored 9 goals in their last game- Rhode Lane had to play early morning due to their flight home that same day. Quickly going 2.0 up the Za Alej boys were comfortably on top, playing on the top quality Slovacko training pitch-but by determination and teamwork the Hamp boys pulled back one and then put the pressure on, almost gaining an equaliser before the premature final whistle went to get them back on the coach for the airport. A dissapointingly close 2.1 final score, but a chance for revenge next spring when the Za Aleji boys plan to come to England.
A sporting 'tunnel of respect' from the Rhode lane team to the defeated Buchlovice boys.
The tour also included an'adults' match. This was hosted by Antonin Machalas ALTECH team-who annually travel to foreign countries as partners of Sedgemoor Unison for footballing fraternisation.
Machala had recently paid for a football pitch for his workers and Rhode Lane Seniors were the first visiting team to try it out.
Unfortunately, despite a classic opening goal by team coach Kevin Parsons, the rest of the game didn't live up to this promise and we stopped counting after the 10th Altech goal went in and the final adult player limped or was pulled off leaving the kids to face the final result.
Rhode Lanes tour had been organised by Councillor Brian Smedley of the Bridgwater Czech Slovak Friendship Society and had been funded partly from their own fundraising and partly from subsidy from Bridgwater town hall.
The excitement mounts as the Buchlovice crowd start to pick their noses
