Party

u9 athletic B at Wembley On a wet and windy November morning, the players of Felpham Colts Athletic B Under 9’s and their families, along with some distinguished guests from the Felpham Colts hierarchy (Adam Yates, Keeley Embleton, Jon Purkis, Kirsty Cane and families), met at the Arun Leisure Centre to board the coach that would take them to Wembley Stadium. Once aboard, Paul Gamblin & Paul Woodruff carried out a head count only to find that Manager Shaun Santer was once again running late, leaving the atmosphere on the bus to build to a crescendo. Shaun was suddenly spotted charging across the car park with two players in tow and a large red object underneath his arm. Once aboard the object was identified as a bingo machine! Our lovely driver, Pippa, then carried out her long overdue safety briefing, only to once again be delayed as Adam pulled out a George Cross Flag with Felpham Colts printed across the middle and attempted to attach it to the back window of the coach. Shaun once again stepped in with duct tape in hand and 10 minutes later we were actually ready to depart.

The journey began with the sounds of conversation and Nintendo DS Lite’s echoing around the bus. Shaun ‘clickety click 66’ Santer then sprung into life and wandered the aisle selling bingo tickets to all and sundry. Two games later, with the coach building up to a frenzy, the quotes of ‘thank you whistlers’, and ‘thank you quackers’ became a distant memory as Shaun decided to take a break until the return journey.

Once at the stadium the boys were kept in a group like a herd of sheep by photographer extraordinaire Paul Woodruff until the impressive Wembley Arch was filling his camera lens. The boys then got into formation with the Felpham Colts George Cross Flag in place and the cameras started to click and flash, pausing only when newly arriving coaches passed in the background. The Felpham Colts posse then took to their impressively located seats, only five rows back behind the goal. The boys were then given a new mission by the Chairman – to get us on Wembley TV. Having stood patiently with the Felpham Colts George Cross Flag aloft for some 10 minutes we finally hit the big screen in the stadium, only for Adam and Jon to spring into action and unreel a huge yellow Felpham Colts Banner in the background for the stadium crowd to feast its eyes upon. Job Done!

The game itself started with England U21’s on the front foot, and a couple of early chances went begging. The rain was steadily falling inside the Stadium, and although this wasn’t a major issue, most of the parents were hoping to see the Wembley Roof put to good use. Alas, prayers were not answered. Portugal began to get a foothold in the game, but just before half time and against the run of play the deadlock was broken. A ball was lofted into the Portugal box, Andy Carroll nodded the ball down and the diminutive Danny Rose collected the ball and slotted it neatly into the net. 1-0 ENGLAND. The second half proved to be a tactical affair, with few chances. Portugal got more and more possession as the half went on but England proved to be steadfast at the back and held out for a 1-0 victory.

Once back on the coach the passengers had to endure a one hour delay in getting out of Wembley and the surrounding areas and back out onto the Motorway. Memories of the game were now distant, but no-one on board had forgotten the outward journey, and cries of ‘Bingo’ filled the coach. Shaun finally relented to growing pressure and kept the boys and their families happy for the remainder of the journey with the undoubted star of the day, the bingo machine, once again spitting out the balls for a willing crowd.

PAUL GAMBLIN