Brandon Lads under 11 team are looking forward to their second trip to Holland, all this has become possible with the very much appreciated sponsorship from local Brandon company Lignacite.

Team managers, Steve Gathercole & Phil Sanders, have had a very successful season with the under 11's again this year, the team has already made it through to two cup finals, and narrowly missed out on winning their league just through goal difference.
We wish the team all the best on their trip, and hope that the players & parents enjoy themselves just as they did last year.

We hope to update this dedicated page with news and events as it happens.

Feb 2006
Meeting with sponsor, to discuss the details of the trip and get the final OK.

Feb 21st 
Press photo taken with Giles De Lotbiniere, managing director of Lignacite, Kevin Briston, Club Chairman, Steve Gathercole, Team Manager and some of the under 11 squad players.

 

March 18th
A race night held at Mundford Cricket Club raised £670 to go towards new tracksuits for all the players going on the Holland trip. Brandon Lads sends a very big thank you to all at the Cricket Club for all their help and support on the night.

April 8th & 9th
The team beats both Withersfield & Newbury Rangers, but narrowly miss out on winning the league becoming runners-up on goal difference.

April 20th
With the money raised from the race night, Phil & Steve have ordered the new tracksuits & polo shirts for the players on the trip. If any adult wishes to buy any of these they are priced at, Polo shirts £16, tracksuit (bottom & top)£40 or tracksuit jacket only £24. If you would like to order any of these then please contact either Phil or Steve as soon as possible.

April 30th
The team plays in the ISYL K/O cup final and despite being a goal down at half time, they beat Achilles 2-1 to win the K/O cup, with goals coming from J.Walters and F.Joe.

May 7th
A cup double as the team wins the ISYL Open Cup final in an exciting match Vs Gorleston Rangers, winning
3-2 with goals from,

June 17th
The players are presented with their league runner up trophies at the annual presentation night, along with the Open Cup & Knock out cup.

June 18th
Two teams entered into the Thetford Indies 5-a-side tournament, one losing at the semi final stage on penalties, and the other going on to win the under 11 competition.

   July 2nd
After the exit of England on Saturday in the World Cup & Phil running out of gas for the Bar-B-Q, the boys go to Needham Market and come home triumphant.

July 24
Final payment to sports tour company completed.

Aug 6
The team travel to Caister to play in a pre-season 11-a-side tournament. The boys looked a little rusty in the group stages and just qualified for the semi's, were they won in extra time. They then went on to face unbeaten Gorleston in the final and won 3-0.

FIVE DAYS TO GO!!!!!
FOUR DAYS TO GO!!!!!
THREE DAYS TO GO!!!!!
TWO DAYS TO GO!!!!!
ONE DAY TO GO !!!!!!

Friday 25th August 2006
Its departure day for the under 12 tour to Holland, and a very excited group of players, parents, grandparents and friends gathered at Brandon Leisure centre to board our coach. A short trip to Bury to pick up a couple of other player and parents and we were off to catch the Hi-speed ferry from Harwich. 
The three and a half hour journey went by quickly and we all looked forward to getting back on the coach, BUT
a small group of us had left our passports on the bus and we were stopped at passport control, no problems said the Dutch policeman, I'll walk with you to your coach and check your passports there. Well as we walked to our coach, passing the front of other coach, full of rugby players, the chairman saw one of them squatting down at our coach wheel, letting the air out of our tyre. Well after a very heated few minutes and some exchanging of strong words the incident was sorted out between the two parties, and the rugby team donated £60 to the players for them to buy ice cream. A short journey followed to our holiday village at Duinrell, and we all went off to find our chalets.

Saturday 26th August
An early start saw us travel to the Amsterdam stadium, home of Ajax FC, for a very pleasant and well informative tour of the stadium. All on the party thoroughly enjoyed this insight into the home of the most famous football club in Holland, and the boys made sure that they went home with plenty of souvenirs from the club shop. With a couple of hours to spare before we needed to reach our first match destination a welcomed stop at Burger King filled some empty stomachs. Our first opponents were a team called v.v. Hekelingen, who are based in the city of Spikenisse, from first impressions this looked liked a very big and well organised club, but, in reality, we found them to be not all that friendly off, or as the players found out, on the pitch. The game started and our players looked like they were giving their older opponents to much respect, and could not quite get into the fast flowing football that they play so well. I'm not sure about the Dutch training methods but the Hekelingen players knew how to foul or should I say hack down our boys, with some very nasty tackles coming in from all angles, but the boys settled in and kept their cool and despite going a goal down, went on to win the match comfortably 3-1, with goals from Ryan Sanders and two from Fabien Joe. I have to say that I was glad to leave there and to make our way back to
Duinrell. During half time of this match the compulsory "crossbar challenge" was shared between Harvey Walters and Stuart Langston, both winning 20 euros each.

Sunday 27th August
The second match of our tour was planned as a 12 noon kick-off again against a team called v.v. SCO '63, again based in the city of Spikenisse. Once more this looked like a very big club, but this time we were made to feel very welcome with club officials coming to meet us. The boys seemed more relaxed, and soon got into their rhythm, and took the game to their opponents, and easily went into half time leading 3-0, with our keeper an almost spectator in his goal. The second half again was one way traffic with the boys extending their lead, but credit to the home side they did pull a couple of goals back, but again the boys looked very comfortable and at the final whistle the score was 7-2, goals coming from Fabien Joe x 3, Danny Langston, Max Beard, Josh Thompson & Jack Wilcox. With pleasant surroundings and in fine weather, our group decided to stay on for some liquid refreshments and wasp squashing, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Again the crossbar challenge was well represented and Harvey Walters again (fix or what) came out on top winning the prize money all to himself.

Monday 28th August
Time to pack our backs and leave, and in the pouring rain we lugged our bags back to the coach, there was still time for most of the boys to go swimming and to buy some last minute presents, and at 2pm we all boarded the coach to make our way to the ferry. What a journey home! The sea was very rough and made many of the passengers ill, a 3 ½ journey felt like all day, but eventually, we docked at Harwich and returned to the coach for  our ride home. Some small fun based gifts were given out by the chairman to some of the adults as prizes for the trip and they were; Darren, a gold (plastic)  bling bling cross, to match his bling bling bracelet. Stuart Langston, a gangster hat, for his handling of the rugby players. David Bick, a note pad, so that he can write down all of his well known associates instead of name dropping all the time. Mark Cobbold, a bag of carrots to feed his rabbit!! Harvey Walters, an electronic wasp squatter, he needs the practise. Ken (Keith, Carl, Keiron)Robertson, a key ring name tag, so that he will always know who he is. Barry Beard, a bag off fishermans friends, for his deep and husky voice. Stephen Gathercole, a box of matches, so that he can always play hide & seek anywhere he goes. Phil (Stinky Pete) Sanders, some roll on deodorant, so that he need not be smelly anymore. A big big thankyou goes to all our players who's behaviour on & off the pitch was impeccable, well done to all the parents and supporters for giving our lads the much deserved support. A big thanks to Andy, the coach driver for not getting lost, and a massive thanks goes to Stephen for all his organising of this trip. With last but not least the biggest thank you goes to our sponsors of the trip Lignacite, with their financial support this trip may not have been possible!!!! 
Lets see if another tour is possible for next year! 


Visiting the Ajax Stadium


A view from the stadium seats. The flooring is now being laid for a Madonna concert.


Lads getting ready for kick-off, against v.v Hekelingen

 

Web page property of Brandon Lads & Lasses AFC