Dutch Visit a Huge Success - 25-03-2008

Dutch Visit a Huge Success

More than 60 youngsters braved the elements on Easter Sunday when Chipstead Juniors FC welcomed Dutch side MSV Flakkee to an U13 mini-tournament, which included teams from Sevenoaks Town Juniors FC and Beckenham based The Warren JFC.

Despite the awful weather; a mix of heavy snowfall, sleet and driving rain, the event was a huge success and extremely well supported by family & friends of players from all four teams. Special mention must be made of those Flakkee parents who made the journey there and back on the Sunday to cheer on their boys! That’s what I call great support!

The Dutch party left Holland at 0400 Saturday morning, arriving in time to play Maidstone United Juniors later that morning before heading off to see Maidstone United seniors in the afternoon. They then travelled to Chipstead where they met up in the Bricklayers Arms for a meal with families of several of the Chipstead boys who were hosting the visiting team.

An overnight fall of snow meant a hasty change of venue on Sunday morning with numerous phone calls having to be made. Despite all of this the competition kicked off shortly before 1100 with a total of 6 matches being played. Chipstead won the competition with 2 wins and a draw, narrowly edging the favourites, Sevenoaks Town, into second place. 
 
Despite being a year younger than the other teams, the Dutch side MSV Flakkee proved the most technically gifted team with some very talented players. Despite losing heavily to Sevenoaks Town in the first match, they came back strongly to defeat The Warren and then dominated for long spells against Chipstead, who only secured victory with a 2nd goal late on against the run of play.
 
Following after match refreshments at Chipstead’s pavilion, the Flakkee and Chipstead parties met up again on Sunday night for a meal. The boys then spent another overnight stay with their host families before meeting up with their coaches on Monday morning for the journey back home.

I would especially like to Paul Lansdale, Chairman and Manager of Sevenoaks Town Juniors U13s and Nigel Shields, our U13s Manager, not only for hosting some of the Flakkee boys, but for helping organize the event. Thanks also to our Dutch counterparts Tim van Diest and Ruud Serraarens, who contacted us about coming over and made all the arrangements at their end.

We are grateful to Paul Dixon of The Warren, who brought his boys along at short notice to make up a 4th team. Thank you to our 3 referees, Ian Perfect, Derek Walpole and youngster Sam Lansdale, and to Gary Wright who came along to take some photos for the Chronicle.

Thank you to our other host families, the Bests, Maydoms, Perfects and Keiths, for looking after the Dutch boys so well, and to those parents who served up hot drinks during the matches and laid on refreshments and food afterwards at Chipstead.

I apologise sincerely if I have missed anyone off the list!

It was great meeting Tim, Ruud, Jacob, Cor and all the other Dutch parents who came over to support their boys. Many thanks for your kind gifts. Your framed Flakkee football shirt will take pride of place in our pavilion.

It has been a tremendous experience for our boys and I’m sure one that will remain with them forever. The Flakkee boys were a credit to their club and it was a pleasure to have them visit us. We look forward to this being the start of a long standing relationship with our new friends from Holland.   

                                                                                                              Alan Black

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