The day has finally come when our boys and chaperones end their journey abroad and head home to South Carolina. For many of the chaperones, heading home is bittersweet. We have enjoyed the opportunities presented to us in being a part of an experience that our boys were fortunate enough to have and wish there were perhaps just a few more days. On the other hand, we long to be back home living our daily lives in Greenville, no matter how hectic they may be.
But the reality being what it should be, this trip was not about us…we were simply the voices of reason and safety for 28 boys who share a common passion for the game of soccer and were privileged enough to be able to experience their passion as well as other experiences in a new and different world, far away from what they know. It was the opportunity to see the game played at its highest, and yes most commercial, level through the English Premier League venues and matches that they attended; but also, it was an opportunity to see the game at its simplest level, a love of the game, amongst the Irish and English boys with whom they played, whether on a formal pitch or in pick-up games on the lawn.
Beyond the game of soccer; however, this was an opportunity for our boys to broaden themselves and help them grow into the young men they are becoming. The responsibilities handled by these boys during the course of this trip will make each a better young man. The cultural knowledge they gleaned throughout the trip, and in particular, during their stay with an Irish family, will contribute in helping them to grow and in some ways become more appreciative for what they have. The fun they experienced with friends, teammates, foes, hosts, and chaperones; will be a source of joy for many, many years to come. The awe-inspiring feeling they discovered that they are part of something larger, a larger world, will help them immensely in the ever-widening global environment.
There is a huge world outside our own little version in Greenville, South Carolina. The boys got to experience the world in some of its largeness and hopefully they might just have grown up a little before our eyes during this trip. Sure they had fun being boys and sure they had fun playing soccer; in the end, hopefully they realized that a giant, incredibly exciting world is out there and waiting for them to grow into men and experience it all. After all, this was only a small part of the beginning of a lifelong journey for them as they continue to grow up in spite of our own personal desires sometimes that they remain forever young; it was truly a life experience for them as boys.
That’s all forever from this Blog.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Special Thanks
Thanks to all the Contributors
I would like to say thank you to all the chaperones that helped to make this blog what it was. Everyone in the group was helpful and willing to pitch in. Special thanks go out to Carl L., Tim F., Susie K., Anne A., and Ray H. for the reports. Special thanks also to Dave B. for all the great photos he took during the entire trip. That guy really (I mean “really”) likes taking a lot of pictures. This group and others were up late many nights on this trip to make sure the pictures and daily reports got uploaded to the site. Finding time late in the day when many of them might have wanted to go to bed may have been the hardest part, though the camaraderie and socializing together helped greatly. Finding good internet connections was also fun for the group. Some nights were easier and some nights were harder, but nobody ever complained about what we were doing. Thank you to all of you!
Also, a HUGE "Thank You" to CESA, Mina, and Pearse for making this trip a reality for these boys. You guys are wonderful and did an outstanding job. Thank you!
I would like to say thank you to all the chaperones that helped to make this blog what it was. Everyone in the group was helpful and willing to pitch in. Special thanks go out to Carl L., Tim F., Susie K., Anne A., and Ray H. for the reports. Special thanks also to Dave B. for all the great photos he took during the entire trip. That guy really (I mean “really”) likes taking a lot of pictures. This group and others were up late many nights on this trip to make sure the pictures and daily reports got uploaded to the site. Finding time late in the day when many of them might have wanted to go to bed may have been the hardest part, though the camaraderie and socializing together helped greatly. Finding good internet connections was also fun for the group. Some nights were easier and some nights were harder, but nobody ever complained about what we were doing. Thank you to all of you!
Also, a HUGE "Thank You" to CESA, Mina, and Pearse for making this trip a reality for these boys. You guys are wonderful and did an outstanding job. Thank you!
Monday, August 4, 2008
Freedom Day
Today, the last day of our fabulous trip is a day of freedom for both the chaperones and boys to enjoy with no soccer and no scheduled activities. This is the only day of the trip like this and many were looking forward to it.
For the boys, today meant a day of fun with their host families. Today is also a bank holiday here in Ireland so many of the families had special times planned. We hear that many will have a fun day at the waterpark, some were headed to the beach (yes there are apparently beaches here in Ireland), some were having parties, others were going to the movies; some were going to see the sights, and all should have a really good time.
For the chaperones, much of the same; including a visit to New Grange (a 5000 year old structure), playing some golf, or just touring the sites of Drogheda.
At the end of the day however, everyone knows that they must prepare for the long journey back home. That means packing and preparation for a long day tomorrow; and also, trying to get a good nights sleep.
That's all for now.
For the boys, today meant a day of fun with their host families. Today is also a bank holiday here in Ireland so many of the families had special times planned. We hear that many will have a fun day at the waterpark, some were headed to the beach (yes there are apparently beaches here in Ireland), some were having parties, others were going to the movies; some were going to see the sights, and all should have a really good time.
For the chaperones, much of the same; including a visit to New Grange (a 5000 year old structure), playing some golf, or just touring the sites of Drogheda.
At the end of the day however, everyone knows that they must prepare for the long journey back home. That means packing and preparation for a long day tomorrow; and also, trying to get a good nights sleep.
That's all for now.
U14 Boys Game Report - 08/03/08 Game 1
Today the boys had a chance to play in Drogheda Stadium, home of the Drogheda United Football Club. This was not only a thrill for our boys but also for the local boys who ordinarily do not get a chance to play in the stadium.
For the game against the Drogheda U14-A team, our starting lineup was: Seth, Brett, Tim, and Justin on defense; Ted, Wells, Mitchell and Michael at mid-field; Jack and Jeff were up front; and Daniel in as goalkeeper. Andrew and Ben came in for Seth and Michael. Game action was wide-open for our boys all day as they played hard and well. Early in the match in the 10th minute, Jack led Michael down the left side of the field, Michael cut in toward the 18 yard box and made a beautiful strike into the upper 90 for the first goal of the day. Shortly thereafter in the 18th minute Ben crossed a beautiful ball into the box that Jack flicked on to a wide open Michael in the top left corner of the 18 yard box and again Michael finished for a goal and a 2-0 CESA lead. The boys continued to press but could not convert again and the first half ended.
The boys started the second half again playing well. They controlled play and played well tactically. At the 40 minute mark, Ted crossed a free kick to the back post and Wells made a nice one-touch play on the ball for the goal. The boys then played a mostly possession game from thereon out and had a few nice chances but the final score remained 3-0 in favor of CESA.
For the game against the Drogheda U14-A team, our starting lineup was: Seth, Brett, Tim, and Justin on defense; Ted, Wells, Mitchell and Michael at mid-field; Jack and Jeff were up front; and Daniel in as goalkeeper. Andrew and Ben came in for Seth and Michael. Game action was wide-open for our boys all day as they played hard and well. Early in the match in the 10th minute, Jack led Michael down the left side of the field, Michael cut in toward the 18 yard box and made a beautiful strike into the upper 90 for the first goal of the day. Shortly thereafter in the 18th minute Ben crossed a beautiful ball into the box that Jack flicked on to a wide open Michael in the top left corner of the 18 yard box and again Michael finished for a goal and a 2-0 CESA lead. The boys continued to press but could not convert again and the first half ended.
The boys started the second half again playing well. They controlled play and played well tactically. At the 40 minute mark, Ted crossed a free kick to the back post and Wells made a nice one-touch play on the ball for the goal. The boys then played a mostly possession game from thereon out and had a few nice chances but the final score remained 3-0 in favor of CESA.
U13 Boys Game Report - 08/03/08
Our last game in Ireland will be played in the Stadium of Drogheda boys. The pitch (what they call the field in Ireland) is beautiful and it is nice for our boys to play in front of the stands. Some of the parents come to watch our boys play against the local favorite.
The first opportunity is for Drogheda but after that our team takes control. Grayson makes a great pass but the goalie stops the ball: great save.
Andrew passes to Keaton who moves the ball to Ryan, he shoots and scores our first goal. 0-1 to Cesa. Not a much later Grayson receives the ball on the top of the box who shoots the ball over the goalie: 0-2 to Cesa.
In the second half DB is able to hold us off. Finally Brennan finds Connor D in the box who dribbles passed 2-3 players and scores 0-3 for the final scores. That ends the game. Our team was 5-1-1 a good performance.
The first opportunity is for Drogheda but after that our team takes control. Grayson makes a great pass but the goalie stops the ball: great save.
Andrew passes to Keaton who moves the ball to Ryan, he shoots and scores our first goal. 0-1 to Cesa. Not a much later Grayson receives the ball on the top of the box who shoots the ball over the goalie: 0-2 to Cesa.
In the second half DB is able to hold us off. Finally Brennan finds Connor D in the box who dribbles passed 2-3 players and scores 0-3 for the final scores. That ends the game. Our team was 5-1-1 a good performance.
U14 Boys Game Report - 08/03/08 Game 2
For the final game of the trip, once again in the Drogheda Stadium, the boys faced off against a mixed team of Drogheda players from mostly the Drogheda U14-B team with some of the other players from the earlier game. Ben was our captain along with an honorary mascot, a local young lad who carried out his gift giving duties well. Our starting lineup was DJ minding the goal - Ben, Justin, Tim, and Seth in the back - Ted, Andrew, Wells and Michael in the mid - and Jack and Mitchell upfront. Brett came into the mid and Jeff to defense.
Even more so than the first match of the day, the play of our boys in this match was wide-open with lots of space being created, balls being switched consistently to open wings, and plenty of space for attacking dribbles. There were several good opportunities.
Just as in the earlier match of the day, our boys struck for a goal in the 10th minute of the match. Jack received a ball outside the 18 yard box with his back to the goal, held off a defender who would not let him turn, and played a drop ball to Mitchell who struck a hard shot from 30 yards out over the extended arms of the opposing keeper for a very nice goal. There were several more good chances for the boys in the first half but some good goalkeeping kept the boys at bay for a 1-0 CESA lead at halftime.
Shortly into the second half in the 32nd minute, Brett made a nice tackle in the midfield to possess the ball, dribbled around a defender in toward goal, and struck a beautiful shot from 20 yards out for the score to make it 2-0. Again in the 40th minute, Brett took possession of the ball, dribbled to the right of the box, crossed to Seth who shot from 10 yards, it was saved and deflected by the keeper, and Jack finished off the rebound putting it in the back of the net to make it 3-0 for CESA. At that point, Mina started switching the boys around to play different positions and a guest player, a little boy from Drogheda was put in up front to play. The quality of play from our boys remained high. All our buys tried their best to get the local lad a goal but it was not be and the game ended with a 3-0 victory for our boys.
The two wins today brought our overall record for the trip to a respectable 3-3-2. Overall regardless of the outcomes, this was a great opportunity for our boys to experience both soccer and culture on a different level.
Even more so than the first match of the day, the play of our boys in this match was wide-open with lots of space being created, balls being switched consistently to open wings, and plenty of space for attacking dribbles. There were several good opportunities.
Just as in the earlier match of the day, our boys struck for a goal in the 10th minute of the match. Jack received a ball outside the 18 yard box with his back to the goal, held off a defender who would not let him turn, and played a drop ball to Mitchell who struck a hard shot from 30 yards out over the extended arms of the opposing keeper for a very nice goal. There were several more good chances for the boys in the first half but some good goalkeeping kept the boys at bay for a 1-0 CESA lead at halftime.
Shortly into the second half in the 32nd minute, Brett made a nice tackle in the midfield to possess the ball, dribbled around a defender in toward goal, and struck a beautiful shot from 20 yards out for the score to make it 2-0. Again in the 40th minute, Brett took possession of the ball, dribbled to the right of the box, crossed to Seth who shot from 10 yards, it was saved and deflected by the keeper, and Jack finished off the rebound putting it in the back of the net to make it 3-0 for CESA. At that point, Mina started switching the boys around to play different positions and a guest player, a little boy from Drogheda was put in up front to play. The quality of play from our boys remained high. All our buys tried their best to get the local lad a goal but it was not be and the game ended with a 3-0 victory for our boys.
The two wins today brought our overall record for the trip to a respectable 3-3-2. Overall regardless of the outcomes, this was a great opportunity for our boys to experience both soccer and culture on a different level.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
The Day in Drogheda
Today was a very enjoyable day for all. For many of the chaperones it started off with the attendance of services in the center of town at various churches throughout the town center area, only a short walk from the B&B. The churches themselves were old, beautiful, and full of rich history.
After that it was off to the football stadium in the city, again a short walk from the B&B, to watch the boys play teams from the host Drogheda Football Club. It certainly appeared to be a thrill for all the boys, including the Drogheda teams, to play in the stadium, in front of a crowd that cheered each exciting play and made each player feel special as they were substituted for with rousing applause. The U14's played two matches and the U13's one match with the game reports to follow in the morning.
Once again, the chaperones had some small time to chat with the boys and the host families; and it appears that all the boys are having a great time. Many had plans to go see movies, such as Batman, or go the the indoor waterpark here in Drogheda. Some even had a chance to try the game of Hurling with the some of the host kids. All appeared to be eating well and many had compliments about the home-made shepherd's pie that is a staple of Irish families.
Following some very exciting football and interaction with the families, the chaperones were back on their own and the boys were back with their host families. The chaperones split off for the evening in smaller groups and found local pubs and restaurants downtown for dinner. Towards the end of the evening, all seemed to converge at The Punt Pub for a surprise 40th birthday party for Pearse that included his family, his relatives, and many of his old friends.
A good day and evening was had by all.
That's all for now.
After that it was off to the football stadium in the city, again a short walk from the B&B, to watch the boys play teams from the host Drogheda Football Club. It certainly appeared to be a thrill for all the boys, including the Drogheda teams, to play in the stadium, in front of a crowd that cheered each exciting play and made each player feel special as they were substituted for with rousing applause. The U14's played two matches and the U13's one match with the game reports to follow in the morning.
Once again, the chaperones had some small time to chat with the boys and the host families; and it appears that all the boys are having a great time. Many had plans to go see movies, such as Batman, or go the the indoor waterpark here in Drogheda. Some even had a chance to try the game of Hurling with the some of the host kids. All appeared to be eating well and many had compliments about the home-made shepherd's pie that is a staple of Irish families.
Following some very exciting football and interaction with the families, the chaperones were back on their own and the boys were back with their host families. The chaperones split off for the evening in smaller groups and found local pubs and restaurants downtown for dinner. Towards the end of the evening, all seemed to converge at The Punt Pub for a surprise 40th birthday party for Pearse that included his family, his relatives, and many of his old friends.
A good day and evening was had by all.
That's all for now.
U13 Boys Game Report - 08/02/08 Game 2
Cesa is playing a second selection of Drogheda boys. This team looks stronger than the one we played this morning. Despite this our team seems to be in the groove after this morning’s performance: Connor D intercepts the ball. He goes to the goal and scores our first goal: 0-1 for Cesa. For a while the game goes back and forth without much excitement: our defense (Andrew, Joe, Josh and Connor M) is playing well.
Christopher passes the ball into the open space into the corner where Keaton passes through air to the second post where Connor D tips the ball in for our second goal: 0-2.
The opponent puts in a great effort but Raven prevents the goal.
The second half does not bring much excitement. The teams are evenly matched but Cesa is in control. Two games in one day two wins. A nice comeback after losing our last game in the UK.
Christopher passes the ball into the open space into the corner where Keaton passes through air to the second post where Connor D tips the ball in for our second goal: 0-2.
The opponent puts in a great effort but Raven prevents the goal.
The second half does not bring much excitement. The teams are evenly matched but Cesa is in control. Two games in one day two wins. A nice comeback after losing our last game in the UK.
U13 Boys Game Report - 08/02/08 Game 1
After a change of venue the game is ready to start. The boys are playing against the background of the Irish country side. Green Hills, trees and typical Irish weather which means we will have Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall in the time span of 10 minutes.
The game is on. Our team starts well and after 5 minutes Conner Mccown who passed to Connor D who shoots on the goal. The goalie pushed the ball out but Ryan is there to kick the ball in the lower left corner: 0-1 to Cesa. The Drogheda selection does not give up and intercepts the ball. The forward dribbles passed Raven and gently kicks the ball in the goal: 1-1.
Despite the set back Cesa keeps playing well. Good passes and movement. However, it is the Drogheda team who scores after we can’t clear the ball from a corner kick: 2-1.
Connor D shows his form by dribbling into the box he pulls the ball back, a shot but no goal. Then Connor M dribbles on the sideline a nice high ball to the second post and Rafael is there to head the ball in 2-2.
Brennan intercepts the ball and puts in a great pass to Rafael: who chips the ball over the goalie: 2-3
Our defense (Andrew, Joe, Josh and Connor D) is stepping up and a very nice sequence for 4-5 uninterrupted passed leads to Christopher who finds Joe open but at a difficult angle. He does not hesitate and kicks the ball high in the top right corner: 2-4 for Cesa.
The Irish rain starts and the parents take cover but not 3 minutes later the sun comes out. The Irish team takes full advantage of the slippery field as the ball bounces through to the center forward who kicks the ball passed our goalie: 5-3. That would be the final goal of the game. Cesa wins a well played game.
The game is on. Our team starts well and after 5 minutes Conner Mccown who passed to Connor D who shoots on the goal. The goalie pushed the ball out but Ryan is there to kick the ball in the lower left corner: 0-1 to Cesa. The Drogheda selection does not give up and intercepts the ball. The forward dribbles passed Raven and gently kicks the ball in the goal: 1-1.
Despite the set back Cesa keeps playing well. Good passes and movement. However, it is the Drogheda team who scores after we can’t clear the ball from a corner kick: 2-1.
Connor D shows his form by dribbling into the box he pulls the ball back, a shot but no goal. Then Connor M dribbles on the sideline a nice high ball to the second post and Rafael is there to head the ball in 2-2.
Brennan intercepts the ball and puts in a great pass to Rafael: who chips the ball over the goalie: 2-3
Our defense (Andrew, Joe, Josh and Connor D) is stepping up and a very nice sequence for 4-5 uninterrupted passed leads to Christopher who finds Joe open but at a difficult angle. He does not hesitate and kicks the ball high in the top right corner: 2-4 for Cesa.
The Irish rain starts and the parents take cover but not 3 minutes later the sun comes out. The Irish team takes full advantage of the slippery field as the ball bounces through to the center forward who kicks the ball passed our goalie: 5-3. That would be the final goal of the game. Cesa wins a well played game.
U14 Boys Game Report - 08/02/08 Game 2
In the second match of the day our boys took the pitch versus a combination of teams from around the area, including U13, U14, and U15 boys. The team was undoubtedly the biggest and most physical team we have ever played. Our starting lineup had DJ in goal, with Ben, Brett, Justin, and Seth on defense. Andrew, Ted, Michael, and Mitchell were at midfield, and Jack and Wells up front. Tim came in on defense, while Jeff came in up front.
The tone was set early with a hard tackle on Ben. Ben came back right away with a hard tackle on the same player. The boys played their most spirited and courageous game of the week. They did not back down against an incredibly physical team.
Most of the first half was spent on our half of the field, but our defense and keeper held fast. The score at halftime was 1-0, with the opponents scoring on a nice header from a corner kick.
In the second half, our boys picked up the pace and physical game as well. It was a great game to watch, as many of the spectators were the parents the boys were staying with, and who were routing for our boys.
At the 60 minute mark, the opponents defenseman passed the ball back to their keeper. Out of nowhere, Jeff made a spirited sprint and blocked the kick, dribbled past the keeper and buried the ball in the back of the net.
During the last five minutes the referee's whistle was blowing frequently for fouls as both teams turned up the intensity level wanting a victory. In the 68th minute a redcard was issued to a player on the opposing team for excessive taunting. The referee prudently ended the match shortly thereafter.
The game ended in a 1-1 tie. Hustle and heart was the slogan of the match. This was a very good showing for our boys who did not back down and played extremely hard. Tomorrow is our last day for games versus the boys from Drogheda.
The tone was set early with a hard tackle on Ben. Ben came back right away with a hard tackle on the same player. The boys played their most spirited and courageous game of the week. They did not back down against an incredibly physical team.
Most of the first half was spent on our half of the field, but our defense and keeper held fast. The score at halftime was 1-0, with the opponents scoring on a nice header from a corner kick.
In the second half, our boys picked up the pace and physical game as well. It was a great game to watch, as many of the spectators were the parents the boys were staying with, and who were routing for our boys.
At the 60 minute mark, the opponents defenseman passed the ball back to their keeper. Out of nowhere, Jeff made a spirited sprint and blocked the kick, dribbled past the keeper and buried the ball in the back of the net.
During the last five minutes the referee's whistle was blowing frequently for fouls as both teams turned up the intensity level wanting a victory. In the 68th minute a redcard was issued to a player on the opposing team for excessive taunting. The referee prudently ended the match shortly thereafter.
The game ended in a 1-1 tie. Hustle and heart was the slogan of the match. This was a very good showing for our boys who did not back down and played extremely hard. Tomorrow is our last day for games versus the boys from Drogheda.
U14 Boys Game Report - 08/02/08 Game 1
In the first match back on Irish soil, the starting lineup against a club from Drogheda included Daniel in goal; Justin, Jeff, Tim and Ben in the back; Andrew, Ted, Mitchell, and MJ in the middle; and Seth (better known these days as Ronaldo among the group for his goal-scoring prowess) and Jack up front. Brett came in for Jack, Wells came on for MJ, and DJ played keeper for the second half.
The game was back and forth throughout the entire first half. We had some good opportunities on two corners to none for Drogheda but came away empty and the first half ended 0-0. Early in the second half, Drogheda scored from the left side in the 33rd minute on a high ball into the corner. From there on out, our boys dominated the play with almost all of the action in the offensive end. Good chances to even the match were wasted by our boys as two free kicks form just outside the 18 and a penalty kick were not even on frame. We also had multiple shots on goal from Ted, Brett, Wells, Michael, and Mitchell but we could not get it past the keeper. Drogheda had a few counter attacks with only a single shot on goal as we pressed the game forward for the equalizer, especially when we went to a 3-4-3 formation over the last few minutes.
In the end, it was a very tough loss in that the boys played well, dominated most of the game, but just came up on the short end of the scoreboard. The boys will try again later in the afternoon.
The game was back and forth throughout the entire first half. We had some good opportunities on two corners to none for Drogheda but came away empty and the first half ended 0-0. Early in the second half, Drogheda scored from the left side in the 33rd minute on a high ball into the corner. From there on out, our boys dominated the play with almost all of the action in the offensive end. Good chances to even the match were wasted by our boys as two free kicks form just outside the 18 and a penalty kick were not even on frame. We also had multiple shots on goal from Ted, Brett, Wells, Michael, and Mitchell but we could not get it past the keeper. Drogheda had a few counter attacks with only a single shot on goal as we pressed the game forward for the equalizer, especially when we went to a 3-4-3 formation over the last few minutes.
In the end, it was a very tough loss in that the boys played well, dominated most of the game, but just came up on the short end of the scoreboard. The boys will try again later in the afternoon.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Manager of the Day
In another surprise announcement from Pearse, David Minihan was named as Manager of the Day for his efforts with the U14 Boys squad against a big and tough team of local lads, some of who we think drove to the fields on their own. Thank you Mina for a job well done.
Who knows what new announcement Pearse will make tomorrow.
The Boys are Back in Drogheda
Well, the boys successfully made it through the night with their hosts families last evening here in Drogheda and all of them managed to show up for the games today. In fact, many of the boys reported that they had their best night’s sleep of the trip last night. The same may not be said of some of the chaperones, many of whom socialized last evening together without any “chaperone” responsibilities for getting boys to bed, packing, etc…; and sharing stories until well into the morning hours. A good time was enjoyed by all.
Getting the day’s games started then became a slight adventure as the originally scheduled fields were not available, but the local Drogheda club did a great job in finding alternative fields and shuttling both players and parents to the new complex. A highlight of the transfer for the parents was the trip through the Louth County countryside outside Drogheda on winding, narrow country roads, including getting behind a farm tractor pulling a cart filled with local potatoes. The games of the day for the boys, two each, were very competitive and game reports will follow tomorrow in full.
Once again, the weather was spectacular. There were just a few small periods of light sprinkles but overall the sun was out, again, and the temperatures absolutely beautiful for being outside watching our boys play.
Following the games, the boys were off again with their host families who all seem to be very, very friendly and truly happy to be hosting our boys in their homes. Many of the boys reported having lots of fun playing pick-up soccer in the neighborhood, watching movies, and just being boys with the Irish children. The chaperones also enjoyed meeting and chatting with the host families.
The chaperones then ended the evening with a very nice dinner together in a local restaurant. The consensus of the group was that the food was very good, including several comments that the steaks were some of the best any of us had ever had anywhere; so much for fish and chips again in Ireland.
That’s all for now.
Getting the day’s games started then became a slight adventure as the originally scheduled fields were not available, but the local Drogheda club did a great job in finding alternative fields and shuttling both players and parents to the new complex. A highlight of the transfer for the parents was the trip through the Louth County countryside outside Drogheda on winding, narrow country roads, including getting behind a farm tractor pulling a cart filled with local potatoes. The games of the day for the boys, two each, were very competitive and game reports will follow tomorrow in full.
Once again, the weather was spectacular. There were just a few small periods of light sprinkles but overall the sun was out, again, and the temperatures absolutely beautiful for being outside watching our boys play.
Following the games, the boys were off again with their host families who all seem to be very, very friendly and truly happy to be hosting our boys in their homes. Many of the boys reported having lots of fun playing pick-up soccer in the neighborhood, watching movies, and just being boys with the Irish children. The chaperones also enjoyed meeting and chatting with the host families.
The chaperones then ended the evening with a very nice dinner together in a local restaurant. The consensus of the group was that the food was very good, including several comments that the steaks were some of the best any of us had ever had anywhere; so much for fish and chips again in Ireland.
That’s all for now.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Chaperone of the Day
In a shocking turn of events, Pearse unexepectedly announced to the group that Mike Grasso was named chaperone of the day. Nobody saw this coming. Mike's reward was the front seat on the bus and a fine glass of port to wash down all the grease from the fish and chips. From all of us here with you Mike, CONGRATULATIONS! You could not have done it without us. Oops, Pearse just informed us that Mike's reign will not last long.
On the Road (and Sea) Again
Today we took our well worn seats on the bus and made the 3 hour trip through Wales (lots of castles) and then the very choppy 3-½ hour ferry ride back to Dublin. (Dramamine was being passed around like skittles). Not much excitement to speak of in general. Although the group did manage to have McDonalds (the only open restaurant at the Holyhead port) for lunch for the third time while England; trust us, it’s no different.
Upon arrival in Dublin, we head off toward Drogheda, our final stop on this whirlwind tour. All the kids were anxious to meet their Irish hosts for the next four nights. Upon arrival in Drogheda, the hand off our boys to the local families was quick and cheerful. We are sure that they will all have a blast with their host families. So, the kids are off and the trip continues. Tomorrow there will be lots of game action with 2 games for each team.
That’s all for now.
Upon arrival in Dublin, we head off toward Drogheda, our final stop on this whirlwind tour. All the kids were anxious to meet their Irish hosts for the next four nights. Upon arrival in Drogheda, the hand off our boys to the local families was quick and cheerful. We are sure that they will all have a blast with their host families. So, the kids are off and the trip continues. Tomorrow there will be lots of game action with 2 games for each team.
That’s all for now.
Dublin Sightseeing
Boarding the 19A The group traveled to Dublin to take in the sights and the shopping. The first stop off of Connelly Street was the sports store that we don’t have in America. It curiously looked like Dick’s or Sports Authority but was held in fascination to the players. Jerseys and cleats were thrown around as much as Mom and Dad’s Euro. Some parents did go the commercial route and headed to Arnotts, aka Macy’s to find some memorabilia at discounted prices. Jerseys were chosen from all countries and teams and were worn within seconds of purchase. The Americans were on the loose.
Smaller groups all headed out in various directions in the city to find….additional sports stores and a lunch. The majority of players opted out of the local Pubs like Flannery’s and choose the famed Irish institutions, McDonalds and KFC.
Some lucky players had the opportunity to take the guided 1 ½ hour bus tour that quickly resembled a tour that was taken by similar tourists that was said to be a 2 hour tour. The excited boys were gleeful to see the Book of Kells at Trinity College (a book of “cartoons” as told by a nameless 12 year old) Then there was a small conversation with the staff that led to some insight on how seriously the Long Hall is to the Irish.
The statue of Molly Malone was seen in all her glory with some more notable information that had been omitted by the previous descriptions as well as the history of the mental institution, prison and of course the most famous sight of all, Guinness.
Smaller groups all headed out in various directions in the city to find….additional sports stores and a lunch. The majority of players opted out of the local Pubs like Flannery’s and choose the famed Irish institutions, McDonalds and KFC.
Some lucky players had the opportunity to take the guided 1 ½ hour bus tour that quickly resembled a tour that was taken by similar tourists that was said to be a 2 hour tour. The excited boys were gleeful to see the Book of Kells at Trinity College (a book of “cartoons” as told by a nameless 12 year old) Then there was a small conversation with the staff that led to some insight on how seriously the Long Hall is to the Irish.
The statue of Molly Malone was seen in all her glory with some more notable information that had been omitted by the previous descriptions as well as the history of the mental institution, prison and of course the most famous sight of all, Guinness.
U13 Boys Game Report - 07/31/08
Our last game in England was on a dreary rainy day; our boys played the toughest competition yet on our transatlantic journey. Again the club was small and fast with incredible one touch soccer.
The lineup was Defense, Sowder, Heijjer, Bertelsman, Donohue, Trevor, Joe
Midfield Bertling, Raynor, Koslow, McCown.
Offense Dirrgl, Keaton
Goal, Ravon and DJ
Austin was out of play due to injury
The start of the game had us on the run with their talkative game and foot skills, their 1st goal was a great shot aided by the wind.
The 2nd goal was another great shot by Tranmere.
The 2nd quarter we had a guest goalie, DJ, from the 13’s and we resumed play. Our team was getting used to the Velcro like attachment to our players and started to give back some of the English roughness. Ryan, Joe and Josh were marked men by the Liverpool players. This battle on the field led to our 1st goal with a penalty in the box on Ryan. (This was caught on film by the famous paparazzi film man Dave Bertlesman)
Bringing the score to 2-1, we were catching up with the level and play and were nipping at their heels. Unfortunately we had a penalty that Tranmere shot in for a perfect upper 90 and moments later converted an opportunity for an additional goal 4-1. Shortly thereafter another goal was scored by Tranmere brining the game to 5-1.
The 3rd quarter showed the CESA team in all their glory that had Tranmere take notice. Joe had a beautiful pass to Connor McCown , our striker, that he converted into a fabulous goal, 5-2. Within minutes Brennan zigzagged through the defense and laid a perfect pass to Connor M that he again converted to bring the game to 5-3.
Time was not on our side and we lost the game but left the parents and the players impressed with our ability to play their game on their pitch.
One of the onlookers was Jack of Liverpool that at age 5 was selected to train with the Liverpool Academy, his picture above exemplifies his affinity for the game.
The lineup was Defense, Sowder, Heijjer, Bertelsman, Donohue, Trevor, Joe
Midfield Bertling, Raynor, Koslow, McCown.
Offense Dirrgl, Keaton
Goal, Ravon and DJ
Austin was out of play due to injury
The start of the game had us on the run with their talkative game and foot skills, their 1st goal was a great shot aided by the wind.
The 2nd goal was another great shot by Tranmere.
The 2nd quarter we had a guest goalie, DJ, from the 13’s and we resumed play. Our team was getting used to the Velcro like attachment to our players and started to give back some of the English roughness. Ryan, Joe and Josh were marked men by the Liverpool players. This battle on the field led to our 1st goal with a penalty in the box on Ryan. (This was caught on film by the famous paparazzi film man Dave Bertlesman)
Bringing the score to 2-1, we were catching up with the level and play and were nipping at their heels. Unfortunately we had a penalty that Tranmere shot in for a perfect upper 90 and moments later converted an opportunity for an additional goal 4-1. Shortly thereafter another goal was scored by Tranmere brining the game to 5-1.
The 3rd quarter showed the CESA team in all their glory that had Tranmere take notice. Joe had a beautiful pass to Connor McCown , our striker, that he converted into a fabulous goal, 5-2. Within minutes Brennan zigzagged through the defense and laid a perfect pass to Connor M that he again converted to bring the game to 5-3.
Time was not on our side and we lost the game but left the parents and the players impressed with our ability to play their game on their pitch.
One of the onlookers was Jack of Liverpool that at age 5 was selected to train with the Liverpool Academy, his picture above exemplifies his affinity for the game.
U14 Boys Game Report - 07/31/08
Today, the lads took to the pitch verses the boys from Tranmere. A different format had 3 periods of 25 minutes verses the typical 35-minute halfs. The Transmere Club is very strong. Last year, they hosted and beat our Premiere team as well. The starting lineup included DJ in goal, Seth, Jeff, Tim, and Ben on defense. At midfield, we had Andrew, Ted, Brett, and Wells. Up front was Jack and Mitchell. Justin came in on defense, MJ at midfield, and Daniel took over for periods 2 and 3, while DJ took goal from the younger squad.
Tranmere came out strong and scored 4 goals in the first period. The second and third periods, our boys came out much stronger, with Tranmere adding 3 more goals to our two goals, courtesy of Seth, our newly found offensive scoring machine, who now has a total of 4 goals for the week.
The boys had a much better showing today versus yesterday. The level of soccer in England was very high and our boys learned the hard way in their two games here. Next up is Ireland, where our boys our anxiously awaiting to get back to better form.
Tranmere came out strong and scored 4 goals in the first period. The second and third periods, our boys came out much stronger, with Tranmere adding 3 more goals to our two goals, courtesy of Seth, our newly found offensive scoring machine, who now has a total of 4 goals for the week.
The boys had a much better showing today versus yesterday. The level of soccer in England was very high and our boys learned the hard way in their two games here. Next up is Ireland, where our boys our anxiously awaiting to get back to better form.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
United We Stand
Once again it is up for an English breakfast then off to a busy day in both Liverpool and Manchester. The highlight of the day for many of the boys was the visit to the home of Manchester United.
Before the trip to Manchester; however, there was the business at hand of matches against the Transmere Football Club in the Liverpool area. The boys arrived at the fields in the shadows of the TFC stadium, ready and eager to play some football. The matches were good and we all enjoyed the hospitality and conversation with many of the TFC fans.
Then it was off the highlight of the day and even the trip for many of the boys, a visit to Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United. Upon arrival, the sharp contrasts between Old Trafford and Anfield, where we had visited the day before, were clearly evident. While Anfield oozed hundreds of years of history and the simplicity of wood, Old Trafford was anything but old and gleamed with a modern look of steel. The stadium tour was fascinating and the boys thoroughly enjoyed themselves; with many taking the opportunity to sit in the coaching chair of Sir Alex Ferguson, who we had just seen the evening before at the match, in the Home dugout.
Then taking merchandising to an extreme, we were treated to a real mega-store, where you could almost literally buy anything and everything (which a lot of boys tried to do) with Manchester United on it. There were many bags loaded onto the bus.
Then it was back to the dormitories for a quick rest before a dinner in downtown Liverpool. The group visited the restaurant owned by Jamie Carragher, of the Liverpool Football Club, and had an absolutely fabulous meal with much chatter, friendship, and camaraderie. A quick walk through downtown, including seeing the statue dedicated to Eleanor Rigby of Beatles fame, and it was back to the dorms to pack up and prepare for the trip back to Ireland.
That’s all for now.
Before the trip to Manchester; however, there was the business at hand of matches against the Transmere Football Club in the Liverpool area. The boys arrived at the fields in the shadows of the TFC stadium, ready and eager to play some football. The matches were good and we all enjoyed the hospitality and conversation with many of the TFC fans.
Then it was off the highlight of the day and even the trip for many of the boys, a visit to Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United. Upon arrival, the sharp contrasts between Old Trafford and Anfield, where we had visited the day before, were clearly evident. While Anfield oozed hundreds of years of history and the simplicity of wood, Old Trafford was anything but old and gleamed with a modern look of steel. The stadium tour was fascinating and the boys thoroughly enjoyed themselves; with many taking the opportunity to sit in the coaching chair of Sir Alex Ferguson, who we had just seen the evening before at the match, in the Home dugout.
Then taking merchandising to an extreme, we were treated to a real mega-store, where you could almost literally buy anything and everything (which a lot of boys tried to do) with Manchester United on it. There were many bags loaded onto the bus.
Then it was back to the dormitories for a quick rest before a dinner in downtown Liverpool. The group visited the restaurant owned by Jamie Carragher, of the Liverpool Football Club, and had an absolutely fabulous meal with much chatter, friendship, and camaraderie. A quick walk through downtown, including seeing the statue dedicated to Eleanor Rigby of Beatles fame, and it was back to the dorms to pack up and prepare for the trip back to Ireland.
That’s all for now.
U13 Boys Game Report - 07/30/08
This was a fast paced game with Wrexham applying a lot of pressure early in the game. Again it was a small team but fast and tough playing. After a couple of great saves by Ravon the team picked up their level of play after the 1st 15 minutes. A great pass from Grayson to Brennan almost scored a goal but was batted away at the last minute. Josh and Christopher continued with the pressure with another close ball putting their goalie to work.
Then a a ball intercepted by Connor D in defense was carried through 3 defenders for a picture perfect ball in front of the goal for tap in by Keaton to have us on the board. 1-0.
Ryan held up and almost had a break way but was robbed by the goalie. Then Grayson had a beautiful cross to Keaton to have the final goal leading to a 2-0 victory.
Then a a ball intercepted by Connor D in defense was carried through 3 defenders for a picture perfect ball in front of the goal for tap in by Keaton to have us on the board. 1-0.
Ryan held up and almost had a break way but was robbed by the goalie. Then Grayson had a beautiful cross to Keaton to have the final goal leading to a 2-0 victory.
U14 Boys Game Report - 07/30/08
Suffice to say this game could be called “The Wreck at Wrexham.” It is unfortunate that ALL the boys happened to leave their games either in Ireland or on the bus from all the travel. They looked slow and tired against a very good team from Wrexham. Adding to their woes was the fact that the Wrexham team also had two guest players using this game as their tryout for entry into the Liverpool Academy program on a full-time basis. From our opinion, the will likely make the Academy. Our boys were dominated from start to finish and ended up on the wrong side of a 7-0 scoreline. The game was never really close as the Wrexham team came out fired up and aggressive versus our boys who came out flat and looking very tired. Give Wrexham their due, this was a very, very good football team. No additional details are really necessary and we hope the boys will pick it up again tomorrow and get back on track.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
LFC - Busy Day, Fun Day
Well, today was quite the busy day for the boys and the group. We started at 8:00 AM with a full English breakfast for everyone followed by a quick bus ride to the Liverpool Soccer Academy.
At the Academy the boys hit the Liverpool locker room to get ready and then stepped on some of the nicest, greenest fields we have ever encountered. They were simply beautiful to play on. The teams were then separated, providing each with a trainer from the Liverpool Club. The trainers were excellent in providing instructions during the drills. The trainer for the U14 Boys was a former Liverpool reserve player for the big club who also played in the Scottish Premier League. The boys ran through some drills with the instructors providing excellent commentary and direction throughout the process. This was definitely a highlight of the trip for the boys.
Following the great training session, the group headed off to Anfield, the stadium home of the Liverpool Football Club, for a wonderful experience. The boys went through the LFC museum, showcasing the highlights of over 100 years of history of the club and containing many great visuals, including the four Champions League Cups. After the museum visit, the boys had a private tour of the stadium itself. It started with the boys entering through the players entrance and proceeding directly to the LFC locker room. The room itself was surprisingly simple in its design and utility, better for the players to focus on the match we were told. This followed with a brief stop at the interview area and then onto the pitch itself which was amazing, even better than the Academy fields. It was described as partial artificial and partial natural turf. However, it was described it was amazing. The boys learned the story of The KOP (you’ll have to ask them yourself). Following the stadium tour, the boys then entered LFC retail central in the superstore and had 30 minutes to find gifts and bargains. There were many bags loaded onto the bus and again, this was a thrill and a trip highlight for the boys.
Then it was on to the matches for the boys against Wrexham. This was about 1½ hours away. It was a mixed bag for the boys at Wrexham in terms of results and the game reports will be posted tomorrow given the lateness of the hour today.
Finally, the group headed back toward Liverpool to watch a live match of the Lancashire FA Cantebury Senior Cup featuring the Liverpool Football Club versus the Manchester United Football Club for the cup hardware. The boys thoroughly enjoyed watching the reserve squads battle it for the cup. In a spirited match that swung back and forth in terms of momentum, MUFC prevailed 3-2 on a late goal in about the 80th minute.
A final one hour bus drive back to the University and the day had ended. Whew…what a day; lots of memories and lots of fun.
That’s all for now.
At the Academy the boys hit the Liverpool locker room to get ready and then stepped on some of the nicest, greenest fields we have ever encountered. They were simply beautiful to play on. The teams were then separated, providing each with a trainer from the Liverpool Club. The trainers were excellent in providing instructions during the drills. The trainer for the U14 Boys was a former Liverpool reserve player for the big club who also played in the Scottish Premier League. The boys ran through some drills with the instructors providing excellent commentary and direction throughout the process. This was definitely a highlight of the trip for the boys.
Following the great training session, the group headed off to Anfield, the stadium home of the Liverpool Football Club, for a wonderful experience. The boys went through the LFC museum, showcasing the highlights of over 100 years of history of the club and containing many great visuals, including the four Champions League Cups. After the museum visit, the boys had a private tour of the stadium itself. It started with the boys entering through the players entrance and proceeding directly to the LFC locker room. The room itself was surprisingly simple in its design and utility, better for the players to focus on the match we were told. This followed with a brief stop at the interview area and then onto the pitch itself which was amazing, even better than the Academy fields. It was described as partial artificial and partial natural turf. However, it was described it was amazing. The boys learned the story of The KOP (you’ll have to ask them yourself). Following the stadium tour, the boys then entered LFC retail central in the superstore and had 30 minutes to find gifts and bargains. There were many bags loaded onto the bus and again, this was a thrill and a trip highlight for the boys.
Then it was on to the matches for the boys against Wrexham. This was about 1½ hours away. It was a mixed bag for the boys at Wrexham in terms of results and the game reports will be posted tomorrow given the lateness of the hour today.
Finally, the group headed back toward Liverpool to watch a live match of the Lancashire FA Cantebury Senior Cup featuring the Liverpool Football Club versus the Manchester United Football Club for the cup hardware. The boys thoroughly enjoyed watching the reserve squads battle it for the cup. In a spirited match that swung back and forth in terms of momentum, MUFC prevailed 3-2 on a late goal in about the 80th minute.
A final one hour bus drive back to the University and the day had ended. Whew…what a day; lots of memories and lots of fun.
That’s all for now.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Moving Day and an Evening at the Hollywood Bowl
As Monday night turned into Tuesday morn, the rains arrived; refreshing the air and heavy at times right up until the time we awoke. Moving day was at hand as we prepared to leave Dublin for our next adventure. A tired crew of boys (and parents) arose at 5:00 AM to get their belongings in order and load the bus for the short hop down to the Dublin port.
Arriving at the port, many were surprised by the size of our ferry vessel, the Ulysses, which would carry us on from Dublin to Holyhead in the UK. Once aboard, many again were surprised at the amenities and somewhat luxurious atmosphere that the ship offered. While many chose to catch up on lost sleep during the three-hour journey, lounging out on the sofas, others chose to partake in various activities while onboard. Many of the boys played cards to pass the time, others roamed the vessel in groups (for safety’s sake), others enjoyed the arcade games, a large group played hide-and-seek, some were caught shopping yet again, while still others caught the latest new film, Kung Fu Panda in one of the two theatres on board.
Following our arrival in Holyhead, a three-and-a-half hour bus drive ensued to take the group to Liverpool. On this portion of the trip, sleep was the order of the day with little else to pass the time but for the occasional sightseeing of the English countryside; except of course for bus Karaoke. Many of the young lads took to the microphone and demonstrated their vocal abilities with gusto.
Upon arrival in Liverpool, the group headed to Liverpool Hope University for our accommodations. Once again the unloading process of passengers and luggage began as we checked in to our rooms, only this time during a pouring rain storm. Rain then became the theme for the evening. As Pearse so eloquently stated, “ Grasso, here’s your rain.”
Following a hurried stop at the University, the boys then took the field (indoor at this point) at the Liverpool Football Club Academy for a quick training session. It was a good, quick session on the same fields that many of the Liverpool soccer greats had played on to start their careers. Sorry for the poor quality photos due to the bad lighting indoor but we will have better Academy photos tomorrow.
The next scheduled event was the attendance by the group of the Bolton-Tranmere soccer match at the stadium in Tranmere. However, the weather intervened and the match was cancelled. As an alternative, the group had a nice dinner in Liverpool. The boys ended the evening bowling with Mina and Pearse (fun was had by all).
More training at the Academy tomorrow followed by matches for the boys.
That’s all for now.
Arriving at the port, many were surprised by the size of our ferry vessel, the Ulysses, which would carry us on from Dublin to Holyhead in the UK. Once aboard, many again were surprised at the amenities and somewhat luxurious atmosphere that the ship offered. While many chose to catch up on lost sleep during the three-hour journey, lounging out on the sofas, others chose to partake in various activities while onboard. Many of the boys played cards to pass the time, others roamed the vessel in groups (for safety’s sake), others enjoyed the arcade games, a large group played hide-and-seek, some were caught shopping yet again, while still others caught the latest new film, Kung Fu Panda in one of the two theatres on board.
Following our arrival in Holyhead, a three-and-a-half hour bus drive ensued to take the group to Liverpool. On this portion of the trip, sleep was the order of the day with little else to pass the time but for the occasional sightseeing of the English countryside; except of course for bus Karaoke. Many of the young lads took to the microphone and demonstrated their vocal abilities with gusto.
Upon arrival in Liverpool, the group headed to Liverpool Hope University for our accommodations. Once again the unloading process of passengers and luggage began as we checked in to our rooms, only this time during a pouring rain storm. Rain then became the theme for the evening. As Pearse so eloquently stated, “ Grasso, here’s your rain.”
Following a hurried stop at the University, the boys then took the field (indoor at this point) at the Liverpool Football Club Academy for a quick training session. It was a good, quick session on the same fields that many of the Liverpool soccer greats had played on to start their careers. Sorry for the poor quality photos due to the bad lighting indoor but we will have better Academy photos tomorrow.
The next scheduled event was the attendance by the group of the Bolton-Tranmere soccer match at the stadium in Tranmere. However, the weather intervened and the match was cancelled. As an alternative, the group had a nice dinner in Liverpool. The boys ended the evening bowling with Mina and Pearse (fun was had by all).
More training at the Academy tomorrow followed by matches for the boys.
That’s all for now.
Monday, July 28, 2008
City Days and Soccer Nights
Well, today was another beautiful day in Ireland. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and the temperature delightful. We are starting to now question everything Pearse and Mina have said, since we all packed sweatshirts, long pants, and rain gear on their advisement. Meanwhile, we are enjoying what we have been blessed with for now weather-wise and hope that our good fortunes continue.
Today started off with breakfast at 8:00 AM that for many of the chaperones was a difficult assignment to meet given the festivities last evening at the home of our new friends here in Dublin. The boys were up bright and early however and polished off the meal quickly.
Following that it was a brief respite before heading out by double-decker bus to downtown Dublin. Imagine trying to have exact change (in Euros no less) for over fifty people for the bus. Once downtown, each group of boys and chaperone were on their own to enjoy the city and partake in the sights, sounds, shopping, history, and dining that Dublin has to offer. It was truly a great experience for all. Many of the boys came away from their excursion sporting new boots and jerseys.
Then it was game time starting in the early evening and ending later in the night as both teams played matches against St. Kevin’s Soccer Club (game reports follow in separate posts). The games were played at the AUL Complex that the Ireland U-14 through U-17 national teams call home. The boys even had to watch some of the U-17 players in a match on an adjacent field.
Lone last stop for dinner at “The Chipper” for a quick bite of chips and assorted burgers, chicken, etc… An evening meeting followed to prepare for tomorrow.
Finally, it was a late night of packing up as the group tried to get to bed early for a 6:00 AM departure in the morning for the ferry to Liverpool.
That’s all for now.
Today started off with breakfast at 8:00 AM that for many of the chaperones was a difficult assignment to meet given the festivities last evening at the home of our new friends here in Dublin. The boys were up bright and early however and polished off the meal quickly.
Following that it was a brief respite before heading out by double-decker bus to downtown Dublin. Imagine trying to have exact change (in Euros no less) for over fifty people for the bus. Once downtown, each group of boys and chaperone were on their own to enjoy the city and partake in the sights, sounds, shopping, history, and dining that Dublin has to offer. It was truly a great experience for all. Many of the boys came away from their excursion sporting new boots and jerseys.
Then it was game time starting in the early evening and ending later in the night as both teams played matches against St. Kevin’s Soccer Club (game reports follow in separate posts). The games were played at the AUL Complex that the Ireland U-14 through U-17 national teams call home. The boys even had to watch some of the U-17 players in a match on an adjacent field.
Lone last stop for dinner at “The Chipper” for a quick bite of chips and assorted burgers, chicken, etc… An evening meeting followed to prepare for tomorrow.
Finally, it was a late night of packing up as the group tried to get to bed early for a 6:00 AM departure in the morning for the ferry to Liverpool.
That’s all for now.
U13 Boys Game Report
Game 2 Starting Lineup against St. Kevin’s from the Boys Club of Dublin.
Being played at the AUL which is where the Irish Youth National teams train.
Boys 13- Forwards Conner D. and Keaton
Midfielders-Grayson, Brennan, Chris, and Ryan
Defenders-Sowder, Josh, Joe, and Trevor
Ravon was in the goal.
Captains were Austin Rackley and Ryan Bertling (apologies to Conner McCown and Ravon Ashey for omission of yesterdays Captains)
As CESA came out against the orange and black we again were surprised by the speed and intensity of a small and feisty team. Each team maintained even possession throughout the 1st half. CESA was first to strike with a great cornerback by Trevor that was passed by Keaton to Brennan who scored the 1st goal.
Ten minutes later Conner Donahue had a shot deflect off the post which was finished by Keaton on a half volley. 6 minutes later Raven kept the score at 2-0 by stopping a 1 on 1 chance.
2nd Half. Rafael in for Conner D. Conner M. in for Ryan Bertling and Austin in for Josh.
The St. Kevin’s striker took advantage of an opportunity and scored on a 1 vs 1 closing the gap to 2-1.
Ryan B. got to opportunity for extra pushups along with a St. Kevin’s player in lieu of a yellow.
One of the most exciting plays of the game was when Ravon Ashy had to leave the box to head the ball away from an attacker and then had to rush back to the box to make a diving save. The ball was finally cleared to safety by Josh.
CESA last scored when Conner D. passed to Rafael who scored the 3rd and final goal.
The game was down to the last minutes when St. Kevin’s was awarded a penalty kick which was converted. In the last minute St. Kevin’s tied with a free kick from 30 yards. It was a great game and another beautiful sunny day.
Game report by Susie Koslow and Ann Ashy
Being played at the AUL which is where the Irish Youth National teams train.
Boys 13- Forwards Conner D. and Keaton
Midfielders-Grayson, Brennan, Chris, and Ryan
Defenders-Sowder, Josh, Joe, and Trevor
Ravon was in the goal.
Captains were Austin Rackley and Ryan Bertling (apologies to Conner McCown and Ravon Ashey for omission of yesterdays Captains)
As CESA came out against the orange and black we again were surprised by the speed and intensity of a small and feisty team. Each team maintained even possession throughout the 1st half. CESA was first to strike with a great cornerback by Trevor that was passed by Keaton to Brennan who scored the 1st goal.
Ten minutes later Conner Donahue had a shot deflect off the post which was finished by Keaton on a half volley. 6 minutes later Raven kept the score at 2-0 by stopping a 1 on 1 chance.
2nd Half. Rafael in for Conner D. Conner M. in for Ryan Bertling and Austin in for Josh.
The St. Kevin’s striker took advantage of an opportunity and scored on a 1 vs 1 closing the gap to 2-1.
Ryan B. got to opportunity for extra pushups along with a St. Kevin’s player in lieu of a yellow.
One of the most exciting plays of the game was when Ravon Ashy had to leave the box to head the ball away from an attacker and then had to rush back to the box to make a diving save. The ball was finally cleared to safety by Josh.
CESA last scored when Conner D. passed to Rafael who scored the 3rd and final goal.
The game was down to the last minutes when St. Kevin’s was awarded a penalty kick which was converted. In the last minute St. Kevin’s tied with a free kick from 30 yards. It was a great game and another beautiful sunny day.
Game report by Susie Koslow and Ann Ashy
U14 Boys Game Report
After the U13 boys tied the lads from St. Kevin’s, the CESA U14 boys took the field against the orange and black. The fact that the other team was bigger and faster did not deter the boys from Greenville. The St. Kevin’s squad was as good as any team our boys have played.
The starting lineups included DJ in goal, Ben, Jeff, Tim, and Justin on defense. The midfielders included Wells, Brett, Andrew, and Michael, with Teddy and Jack up front. Seth came in at forward midway through the first half and finished the game on defense. Mitchell also came in midway through the first half at midfield. Unfortunately Daniel was under the weather and did not play. (He’s fine now and is good to go tomorrow).
St. Kevin’s controlled the play in the first half, missing a few near our goal, but in general, our boys did not give up many good opportunities. Our boys had a good opportunity in the waning minutes of the half as Seth made a beautiful run up the right side with the ball and slid a cross to Teddy whose shot barley sailed over the crossbar. The score at the half remained 0-0.
In the second half, our boys came out strong and got on the board first at the 46th minute with Jack having a nice assist on a drop pass to Brett on who buried it in the net from 25 yards out. Then at the 50th minute, the St. Kevin’s keeper mishandled the ball and Set took advantage of the keeper by picking his pocket and scoring to make the score 2-0. Teddy also had a great opportunity from distance in the 60th minute as his dipping shot caught the crossbar square and rebounded away unluckily for our boys.
A motivated St. Kevin’s squad came on hard and strong at the end and scored two goals near the end of the game. The boys were a slightly disappointed in the result but the effort, especially in the second half, was a great showing for our lads.
Hats off to DJ who had a stellar performance in goal.
Game report by Carl Litzinger and Tim Finigan
The starting lineups included DJ in goal, Ben, Jeff, Tim, and Justin on defense. The midfielders included Wells, Brett, Andrew, and Michael, with Teddy and Jack up front. Seth came in at forward midway through the first half and finished the game on defense. Mitchell also came in midway through the first half at midfield. Unfortunately Daniel was under the weather and did not play. (He’s fine now and is good to go tomorrow).
St. Kevin’s controlled the play in the first half, missing a few near our goal, but in general, our boys did not give up many good opportunities. Our boys had a good opportunity in the waning minutes of the half as Seth made a beautiful run up the right side with the ball and slid a cross to Teddy whose shot barley sailed over the crossbar. The score at the half remained 0-0.
In the second half, our boys came out strong and got on the board first at the 46th minute with Jack having a nice assist on a drop pass to Brett on who buried it in the net from 25 yards out. Then at the 50th minute, the St. Kevin’s keeper mishandled the ball and Set took advantage of the keeper by picking his pocket and scoring to make the score 2-0. Teddy also had a great opportunity from distance in the 60th minute as his dipping shot caught the crossbar square and rebounded away unluckily for our boys.
A motivated St. Kevin’s squad came on hard and strong at the end and scored two goals near the end of the game. The boys were a slightly disappointed in the result but the effort, especially in the second half, was a great showing for our lads.
Hats off to DJ who had a stellar performance in goal.
Game report by Carl Litzinger and Tim Finigan
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Let the Games Begin
Upon awakening to a somewhat uncharacteristic blue and clear Irish sky, the boys started their day getting ready for the first competitive games of the trip. The weather has been extraordinarily nice here in Ireland this week. Sunny and low 70's. Just beautiful.
Up first, a slightly modified "traditional" Irish breakfast, no more than six items please, of eggs, ham, sausage, mushrooms, fruit, cereal, and pastry. With a hearty meals behind the boys it was off to the fields for gameday.
The boys played matches around mid-day here against the Dublin Club named Belvedere. Game report posts follow in separate posts.
Following the games, the boys were on their own for lunch with friends and/or family. Then there was several hours of free time where the boys just had fun being boys by playing cards, practicing their singing for the bus ride, sleeping, chatting, going to the park, and on and on.
For the early evening, the boys once again played small-sided matches in the steel-cage fields here on campus, a whole lot of fun.
Dinner time meant alone time for the chaperones as they left the boys playing games and departed for the home and hospitality of Pearse's former coach for a "quiet" evening. A lovely time was had by all -- socializing, dining, drinking, and of course singing.
The boys meanwhile retired to the dorms following their play for a pizza party hosted by our own David Minihan.
That's all for now.
Up first, a slightly modified "traditional" Irish breakfast, no more than six items please, of eggs, ham, sausage, mushrooms, fruit, cereal, and pastry. With a hearty meals behind the boys it was off to the fields for gameday.
The boys played matches around mid-day here against the Dublin Club named Belvedere. Game report posts follow in separate posts.
Following the games, the boys were on their own for lunch with friends and/or family. Then there was several hours of free time where the boys just had fun being boys by playing cards, practicing their singing for the bus ride, sleeping, chatting, going to the park, and on and on.
For the early evening, the boys once again played small-sided matches in the steel-cage fields here on campus, a whole lot of fun.
Dinner time meant alone time for the chaperones as they left the boys playing games and departed for the home and hospitality of Pearse's former coach for a "quiet" evening. A lovely time was had by all -- socializing, dining, drinking, and of course singing.
The boys meanwhile retired to the dorms following their play for a pizza party hosted by our own David Minihan.
That's all for now.
U13 Boys Game Report
The clouds separated as the CESA 95 Premier walked across the sunlit Green fields belonging to club Belvedere. The setting was spectacular and the Parents from both sides of the Atlantic sat along the sidelines watching their young sons play some exciting soccer. Kudos should be made to Nathan “11” and Belvedere’s #15 who kept the pressure on during the whole game with their speed and tenacity.
The first half had Joe, Brennan, Connor, Chris in mid, Keaton and Rafael strikers, and Rackley, Connor Mc and Trevor defending. The feisty Irishmen had speed and quick moves that kept the midfield moving and defense on their toes. Coupled with some “serious” officiating it was a close game with 0-0 until the final 30 seconds of the 1st half.
The ref granted a “water break” to both teams and CESA players waited as the Irish had some refreshments. Not needing a reprieve Trevor Thompson had a great cross that Chris finished with finesse for a beautiful goal for a 1-0 lead.
The second half had Chris and our left footers keeping #11 and #15 at bay and allowed some great opportunities for Grayson and Ryan to make some beautiful shots on goal. They played tough taking on Belvo players while the other team was called on penalties with threats of expulsion. Keaton and Brennan survived and medics not needed. Donohue dominated the left side of the field with his fancy footwork that was evident in this calmness as he touched in a beautiful goal taking advantage of the Goalie and defense. CESA’s goalie Ravon came out running on couple of breakaways that secured his 1st international shutout.
The first half had Joe, Brennan, Connor, Chris in mid, Keaton and Rafael strikers, and Rackley, Connor Mc and Trevor defending. The feisty Irishmen had speed and quick moves that kept the midfield moving and defense on their toes. Coupled with some “serious” officiating it was a close game with 0-0 until the final 30 seconds of the 1st half.
The ref granted a “water break” to both teams and CESA players waited as the Irish had some refreshments. Not needing a reprieve Trevor Thompson had a great cross that Chris finished with finesse for a beautiful goal for a 1-0 lead.
The second half had Chris and our left footers keeping #11 and #15 at bay and allowed some great opportunities for Grayson and Ryan to make some beautiful shots on goal. They played tough taking on Belvo players while the other team was called on penalties with threats of expulsion. Keaton and Brennan survived and medics not needed. Donohue dominated the left side of the field with his fancy footwork that was evident in this calmness as he touched in a beautiful goal taking advantage of the Goalie and defense. CESA’s goalie Ravon came out running on couple of breakaways that secured his 1st international shutout.
All in all the kids played great and had a great time playing a team that is actually younger in soccer years. It was a first to be the giants on the field filled with lightning fast competitors. Will keep you posted on tomorrow’s game.
Game Report by Susie Koslow
U14 Boys Game Report
The CESA U14 boys took the field immediately following the CESA 95 Premier team. On a glorious July day in San Diego, I mean Dublin, the boys played their first international match of their careers against the Belvedere Futball Club (vs. Pearse’s former coach), earning their first caps in a 4-1 victory.
The play started off with Daniel in goal, Michael, Tim, Jeff, and Seth on defense. Wells, Brett, Mitchell, and Justin at midfield. And, at forward, Ted and Jack. DJ came in for Daniel in the second half. Ben came in at right defense for Seth, who moved to midfield, and Andrew came in to play at left mid.
All in all the team played VERY well. The defense was solid only allowing their opponents a few shots. The midfielders controlled most of the play, holding the ball and playing side to side quite effectively. And the offense created at least a dozen solid opportunities.
The magic number for the first match for CESA was 11. After a few minutes of feeling each other out, CESA got on the board first at the 11 minute mark. Justin Finigan had a nice assist from the right wing to Wells who had a brilliant one-touch finish past the keeper.
Then 11 minutes later at the 22nd minute mark, Wells had his way with 3 defenders in the left corner, crossed the ball to Justin, who one touched it to Jack who put it away with a great flick header.
Eleven minutes later at the 33rd minute, Seth dribbled down the right side and crossed for an unassisted goal off a defender.
The play started off with Daniel in goal, Michael, Tim, Jeff, and Seth on defense. Wells, Brett, Mitchell, and Justin at midfield. And, at forward, Ted and Jack. DJ came in for Daniel in the second half. Ben came in at right defense for Seth, who moved to midfield, and Andrew came in to play at left mid.
All in all the team played VERY well. The defense was solid only allowing their opponents a few shots. The midfielders controlled most of the play, holding the ball and playing side to side quite effectively. And the offense created at least a dozen solid opportunities.
The magic number for the first match for CESA was 11. After a few minutes of feeling each other out, CESA got on the board first at the 11 minute mark. Justin Finigan had a nice assist from the right wing to Wells who had a brilliant one-touch finish past the keeper.
Then 11 minutes later at the 22nd minute mark, Wells had his way with 3 defenders in the left corner, crossed the ball to Justin, who one touched it to Jack who put it away with a great flick header.
Eleven minutes later at the 33rd minute, Seth dribbled down the right side and crossed for an unassisted goal off a defender.
Finally, 11 minutes later at the 44th minute, Jeff had a nice assist to Mitchell at midfield, who moved in 10 yards, and blasted a shot over the keeper from 35 yards out.
And yes, 11 minute later, Belvedere got their only goal with their captain taking a long shot. DJ made a brilliant save off the crossbar, but the Belvedere forward finished off the rebound.
Game report by Carl Litzinger
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Welcome to Dublin
With much anticipation and little fanfare, the boys arrived in Dublin today. Though the flight was slightly delayed in arrival at the airport in Dublin, the boys emerged eager and ready to begin their journey, their excitement clearly evident through tired eyes and weary bodies. As for the chaperones, I think the slideshow pictures best tell the story of their state.
After boarding the bus and a short ride to Dublin City University (DCU), the schedule was changed slightly to accommodate the delayed arrival whereby we all hauled the luggage to the 5th floor of the dorm (mostly by stairs and considered a workout for most of the adults). A quick lunch in the cafeteria followed (hamburger or chicken-like matter with a side of “chips”). So far so good for their first taste of Irish food .
Then it was off to a couple hour training session under the direction of some very fine (and enthusiastic -- ask Mitchell) coaching from the local Belvedere club, who the boys will play against on Sunday. There was running, jumping, chest bumping, piggy-back rides, and some very good soccer training mixed in for good measure. The boys surely had fun with some of the unorthodox training methods they experienced. (We think it has to do with the coach’s accent.)
Following a brief couple hour respite to rest and recover from the long journey and training session, the boys had a blast playing small-sided games (steel-cage matches, if you will) for a couple hours on the very nice turf fields here at the University. The matches were very spirited and lively.
Dinner this evening was courtesy of the local pub across from the University. Almost all the boys cleaned their plates after a busy day of travel and soccer.
Weather was great today, party sunny to sunny, around 65 degrees. It felt great, particularly after the “no AC” in the jet from GSP to Atlanta.
Tomorrow, it’s the first set of matches against the local club.
After boarding the bus and a short ride to Dublin City University (DCU), the schedule was changed slightly to accommodate the delayed arrival whereby we all hauled the luggage to the 5th floor of the dorm (mostly by stairs and considered a workout for most of the adults). A quick lunch in the cafeteria followed (hamburger or chicken-like matter with a side of “chips”). So far so good for their first taste of Irish food .
Then it was off to a couple hour training session under the direction of some very fine (and enthusiastic -- ask Mitchell) coaching from the local Belvedere club, who the boys will play against on Sunday. There was running, jumping, chest bumping, piggy-back rides, and some very good soccer training mixed in for good measure. The boys surely had fun with some of the unorthodox training methods they experienced. (We think it has to do with the coach’s accent.)
Following a brief couple hour respite to rest and recover from the long journey and training session, the boys had a blast playing small-sided games (steel-cage matches, if you will) for a couple hours on the very nice turf fields here at the University. The matches were very spirited and lively.
Dinner this evening was courtesy of the local pub across from the University. Almost all the boys cleaned their plates after a busy day of travel and soccer.
Weather was great today, party sunny to sunny, around 65 degrees. It felt great, particularly after the “no AC” in the jet from GSP to Atlanta.
Tomorrow, it’s the first set of matches against the local club.
Friday, July 25, 2008
The Day Has Finally Come
Well, with much anticipation and waiting, the day has finally come today for the boys to head off to Ireland. Their long journey has begun on what may be be one of the most unforgettable adventures of their lifetime. A short little hop to Atlanta and then a long flight over the pond to Dublin where the adventure begins in earnest. Shortly after arrival on Saturday morning it's off to training and playing; but most of all, it's about enjoying the experience ahead of them and taking the opportunity to live in the moment, that for 12/13 year-old boys must be simply thrilling. That's all for now, but starting tomorrow the daily reports will begin to help share with all of you back home the experience we are all sharing here together.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
TEST 3
This is the third TEST post of the CESA 2008 Ireland Trip Blog.
A kick around session for the boys was held on Tuesday, July 8th at Mesa. The slideshow consists of some test pictures taken during the kick-around.
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