A Manchester football team is celebrating after going to the Netherlands and not just winning one tournament - but two!
Whalley Range Under-15s’ trip to the Holland Cup in Almere on the outskirts of Amsterdam over Easter Weekend proved so popular that they were able to field a team in the two tournaments that were held simultaneously.
With teams from 10 different countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, France, Denmark and Sweden, taking part, competition was tough, but both teams prevailed in the two-day tournament, overcoming teams from Amsterdam and Sweden in the respective finals.
It left coach Warren Burton delighted not only with the results on the pitch but by the fact his players had created memories for life over the weekend.
“It was amazing,” Warren beamed. “We’d been waiting to go since the start of Covid as it got cancelled, so getting round to doing it, going there and winning it is a great achievement. We did really well.
“I’ve coached the same group of lads for many years and we have had success, like winning local leagues and cups and stuff.
“We do try to do a lot for them and create opportunities to play abroad - we’ve played in France and Belgium before - but we’ve never actually won a tournament when we’ve been travelling, so to win this time is pretty special.”
Despite there being a number of language barriers between the teams taking part in the tournament, Warren hailed the sportsmanship and camaraderie on display throughout the two days.
He also felt the experience of playing sides from different countries was an eye-opening one for his players.
“That was one of the main things, it was a big learning curve for the lads, especially against teams like the Dutch sides, who didn’t like much contact,” Warren explained.
“We’re quite a physical team and that’s how football is played in England. Even in the Premier League, which I know is a completely different level, it’s quite a physical, fast sport, but playing against teams from the Netherlands and other countries, it was slowed right down and played a lot differently.
“It was good that the lads could see that, adapt and learn how different cultures play.”
He continued: “When we played against teams, we gave each other flags of the different countries we played against and things like that.
“We played a German team in the quarter-finals and, after it, they came over and spoke to us, then they stayed behind for the next two games in order to cheer us on!
“It was a really good weekend, with all the different cultures and countries represented, there was no mither at all - everyone got on really well.”
In a twist of fate, both of Whalley Range’s teams won their final matches on penalties and, with the games taking place simultaneously on pitches next to each other, there were scenes of jubilation when the players were all able to celebrate together.
With a large number of Whalley Range’s players attending Buile Hill Academy together, Warren believes the close-knit group’s bonds will only have been strengthened by the trip abroad.
“It’s massive,” he said. “I grew up playing football and when I go out shopping or to a restaurant or pub, I bump into people I met through football. That’s what football and community sports do, they build relationships and contacts that will last forever.
“Some of the stories from the weekend will be told to kids and grandkids, that’s how proud they were of winning it. You could tell by the smiles on their faces over the weekend how much it meant to them.”
He added: “It’s great they’ve had that experience because academy kids or ones who play to a good level will do, but local lads playing grassroots football very rarely get the opportunity to do things like this.
“To get help from local companies to fund getting us there and kit and tracksuits, it was great to see people from Salford and Manchester come together to help these lads out.”
Warren admits arranging a trip abroad is not the easiest thing to do in grassroots football, with Whalley Range getting sponsorships from local companies Scott Thornton Roofing Contractors, Nelson Construction, Adamson Waste and Jim Hancock Flooring.
Yet, for any grassroots team on the fence about trying to organise attending an overseas tournament, Warren said the stress that goes into arranging it is completely worthwhile.
He said: “It takes a lot of planning. We used a tour company and paid a fee per-person to go, but they did all the planning for us. There were 84 of us in total, so two coaches full of 30-odd kids.
“Some of the best holidays I’ve had have been trips like this. Some of the lads just go on their own but I personally took the whole family and we always have done - they’ve been some of the best trips we’ve had, the kids talk about them all the time.
“It does take a bit of planning and a bit of support from both parents and local companies to raise funds and get you there but, once that’s out the way, it’s well worth the sorting out to get it all prepared.”
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