Football tour to Portugal and Spain

St Bede’s footballers embarked upon a ten day Easter tour of Portugal and Spain to face Portuguese premier league academy opposition and to compete in the Valencia Cup 2011.

Upon arrival in Tavira, Portugal, where the weather was a pleasant 21 degrees, the squad settled into their accommodation and set out the plan for the week in their training camp. As the heat subsided they headed over to the Tavira Stadium where Mr Leggett & Mr Caryer put the squad through their paces with a series of fitness drills that drove home to everybody how much warmer it is in the Algarve and how the squad will have to work together to compensate.

The first game of tour was against Tavira men’s team. The game started on a low as we conceded two goals in three minutes but our boys fought hard to get themselves back into the game getting back to 2 - 2 soon after. What followed was excitement throughout and a great performance by Thibault Bain saw him score a hat trick in a 6 - 5 victory for St Bede’s. The victory and game was a good way to begin a week crammed with football as well as being an indication of footballing styles in Portugal. After the game we travelled to Olanhenese football club to watch the premier league game v FC Ferreira. The game had few highlights and sadly ended in a 0 - 0 draw. However it rounded off a very enjoyable and successful day.

A day of non football activities such as Kayaking and cricket followed by watching a Portuguese premier league game was next on the agenda to allow everyone to feel rejuvenated, refreshed and relaxed. This was good as a very physically demanding day lies ahead including an important fixture against SC Portimonese on Monday evening.

Day four saw a training session followed by a trip to a water park, great fun! Onwards then for St Bede’s v Portemenese, the first of our challenges against Portuguese premier league academy opposition. After a good start St Bede’s found themselves down 2 - 0 but this didn't stop them fighting back and after Bayan Fenwick was fouled in the box Solly March rammed home the penalty to reduce the deficit. St Bede’s began to really play some entertaining football and put the pressure on our opponents. This sustained pressure was rewarded with an equaliser from a Chris Parker near post header. Grant Young then pulled of two magnificent reaction saves to send the sides in at the break level.

The second half began seeing the arrival of fresh legs on both sides but again St Bede’s fell behind to a great volley from the Portemense player, a current U19 international. However the teamwork and perseverance shone through and the game was all square again with a brave goal from Thibault Bain. St Bede’s then looked for the win but the game ended 3 - 3 which in retrospect was a fair result.

The whole squad were happy with the performance and it was a great way to round off a fantastic day. Arriving back at the hotel everyone was shattered from a satisfying and rewarding day

Our next academy fixture was in the town of Olhao and the boys were certainly ready for a big game and it did not disappoint - Olhanese were technically proficient and physically assured but by the turn we were 3-0 up and in control of the game. Olhanese made a series of Squad changes (7) for the second half as did we providing the entire squad with a good work out and a deserved 3-1 victory to conclude the Portugal leg of our tour.

And so to Valencia! The Tournament began which was our focus for the entire Tour! Day one started off with two group fixtures. The first of these was against A.D. Gigantes, a team from Madrid. We began the game in a bit of a lethargic manner probably due to the heat combined with fatigue from the 12 hour journey to get here. However, a neat through ball gave Larry Egunjobi a chance which he did not waste and we took a 1-0 lead. Now St Bede’s began to settle; were more fluid, quicker, sharper and more committed and the result was more goals. A cool volley from Josh Allen and a text book Strike from Felix Frolich rounded off a good overall performance.

Our second group game was against an Italian team from Venezuela. Bayan Fenwick playing in attack broke the deadlock on 21 minutes with a smart finish. A tight tense affair followed and the side were ably led by Skipper Duncan in midfield.

Saturday morning saw our final group match against Zafiro CDC from Valencia. We started a little stronger than in previous matches and Solly March opened the scoring with a fantastic strike across the keeper into the bottom left corner 1:0 to St Bede’s. Zafiro rallied however and before too long levelled but our Captain Duncan took things into his own hands with a pile driver of a shot into the right hand corner to score the winner. The 2-1 victory saw us move to the top of the group having played 3, won 3 with 5 goals for and only 1 against.

The semi final was against the second placed team in Group 2 from Manzanese in Italy. St Bede’s began well placing the Italians under a lot of pressure and time and again were only inches from the final touch to score from at least 4 good chances in the 6 yard box. The pressure was on and as we pressed forward with attack after attack down the left through Solly who was terrorising their right back they hit us on the break and against the run of play we were 0:1 down. The goal we needed when it came was the result of our sustained pressure and after another foiled attack their clearance fell to Freddie Beale on our left whop crossed to find the head of Ashley Crocombe who confidently headed the ball past a stranded Italian Keeper. 1:1 and a Final place to play for saw us maintain the pressure but to no avail and after the final whistle we faced the Penalty Shoot Out!

Our 5 brave men were Solly, Duncan, Bayan, Freddie Beale and Thibault. Grant Young pulled off a fantastic save diving high to his right but the other Italian players kept cool head to edge the shoot out and progress to the final. Looking back on the last 9 days we all feel the tour has been rewarding and successful. We played 7, Won 5, Drew 2 and lost on penalties which show our quality and team spirit having come from behind on the 3 occasions to win or draw.

The evening followed with a real treat when the squad went off to Valencia v Real Madrid. A once in a lifetime opportunity to see Kaka, Ronaldo and others was fantastic and to witness 9 goals in a 3-6 thriller was fantastic. Kaka’s finishing will stick long in my memory.