On Monday night BSYFC 2009s fielded two teams against Sporting Club Neede in the last leg of their NEO Netherlands Tour 2023. The boys have certainly packed a lot into this 5 day tour.
They landed in the Hague on Friday and first up was a trip to miniature world Madurodam followed by watching ADO Den Haag win 2-1 in front of a raucous home support. Thanks to Gavin Price for arranging tickets to see his former Club. Not the greatest start with the group attracting some unwanted stares thanks to the boys tracksuit tops perfectly matching the away team colours. No panic, 24 hastily purchased scarfs later and the boys were in the back of the shed celebrating with the Ultras.
After the match, it was planes, trains and automobiles onto the fantastic group accomodation at Haaksenbergen in the early hours. An early start Saturday for a light training session before an afternoon coaching clinic at FC Twente & Heracles Academy with their coaching staff Thomas and Sjoerd who were very complimentary about our players. Boys loved the session and a huge thank you to Academy Director Dominique Scholten and our Matthijs for sorting this amazing opportunity. Boys then watched an U21 match at the Academy facility between FC Twente v ADO Den Haag tasked with providing a match analysis.
A Saturday evening BBQ with host Club NEO allowed Players and Coaches the chance to get to know each other ahead of Sundays tournament with gifts exchanged and a framed strip presented to our hosts. Huge thank you to Bolscher for supplying all the meat. Matthijs the Fixer has all the contacts here...
An early start next day for the tournament saw a total of seven U15 teams play round robin fixtures of 15mins. Good performances from both Breadalbane teams saw them come out on top and repair Scotlands UEFA co-efficient but this was all about the experience of playing against a different style of european opposition and making new friends.
Before the evening meal, different groups presented their match analysis of the U21 match from Saturday. Some great insights with a common observation of just how quickly both teams moved the ball and how wide they played.
Monday was a visit to FC Twente (Matthijs' beloved home Club) stadium and museum followed by some intense Go-Karting with gaffer Callaghan narrowly pipping Caleb to the Drivers Championship and a few Driving Miss Daisy's trailing behind. In the Laser tag Nathan proved to be the top marksman.
A quick pasta meal cooked by Chef Davies set the boys up perfectly for their final matches against Sportingclub Neede. BSYFC 2 ran out comfortable winners with a hatful of well worked goals. Finlay M caused the home defence plenty problems from an attacking full back role. Max kept a clean sheet with Charlie and Euan both looking solid in the middle of the park.
In the other fixture BSYFC 1 started brilliantly, playing some of their best football to date. A change in formation to two strikers, allowed Caleb and Ben to cause the home side all sorts of problems initially. Failing to convert chances after good build-up play would be the theme of the night however and full credit to Dutch opposition who fought their way back into the game for a well earned 3-3 draw.
Tuesday was early morning taxis and trains to Amsterdam for a stadium tour of the fantastic Johan Cruijff Arena home of Ajax before flying home.
The group of 24 very tired boys, who have been a real credit throughout the trip, were safely delivered home late Tuesday evening. Everyone in agreement it had been a fantastic trip. A huge thank you from the Club to Mairi and Matthijs for the level of planning and organising and without whom it all would not have been possible. Billy for his support and dealing with the finances throughout, Chef Davies for all the tasty meals and Coaches Jamie, Neil & Scott for looking after the boys on the pitch.
The next exchange must surely be welcoming our Dutch friends to Scotland ?
COYB ⚽
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