BRACKLEY SAINTS ON TOUR Saturday 17 th March 2018 It was difficult to believe that a year had flown by since we last travelled to Albufeira and it was once again time to get the players out of the boxes. Squad A Squad B This year we were taking two squads which presented us with several problems, the biggest being trying to find a doctor who would declare us all fit to play. This didn t happen, so we carried regardless. When it came to handing out the kit there were a few more issues. Firstly, Steve Grima had an issue with his shorts Secondly, Pete Emms no longer looked like his Facebook profile. And some of the guys really struggled with the concept of more than one squad!
Eventually the majority of us assembled at Luton airport and prayed that all the others who had flown out days earlier would in fact turn up. We left the snow behind us in the UK but as we began our approach to Faro airport we found out that we hadn t left the bad weather behind. However, we had been allocated a very Nice Hotel, something we took great pleasure in over the following days. Especially as Ken and the guys from Oxford United were in the hotel we had last year, which unfortunately could only produce cold cooked breakfast this year. What a shame. Sunday 18 th March 2018 It was a very relaxing day with a training session at midday - most of the guys spent the afternoon watching the Chelsea and Leicester FA Cup game. Later, we all had a meal at Jorge s Bar and an early evening (especially Dave).
Monday 19 th March 2018 The tournament was held at the ground of FC Ferrerias, who play in the third league of football in Portugal. Monday was not nicest of days very wet and windy and the WAGs who came out to watch spent the day firmly entrenched in the sheltered upper echelon of the stands. BRACKLEY SAINTS A BRACKLEY SAINTS B Day One s format consisted of two leagues and the two Brackley squads were kept apart. The top four in each league qualifying for the Quarterfinals on Day Two. If you finished outside the top four then you had to compete in a Plate competition. Both squad s objectives for Day One was to reach the quarterfinals. Brackley Saints A started the day with a 2-1 win against Tavira B with Pete Emms and Steve Livings both scoring. In their next game Saints A drew 2-2 with Silver Coast B with Steve Livings scoring both goals. Brackley Saints A then lost 4-1 to Olhanense A (a very strong side who had won this tournament for the last two years and a team that would once again reach the Final) with Steve Grima scoring claiming Saints A s only goal. In their next game Brackley Saints A got things back on track beating Boavista 2-1 with Peter Cross and Steve Livings scoring and Brackley Saints A s last game of the day was a 2-0 loss to Browns. At the end of Day One, in a league of 7 Brackley Saints A were well placed to reach the Quarterfinals with one more league game to play against Oxford United on Day Two. Brackley Saints B also got their day off to a winning start beating Tavira A 4-0 (Alan Smith (2) Michael Johnson (2)) and then beating Silver Coast A 4-1 (Alan Smith (2), Michael Johnson and Steve Watson). Next up was Sheffield United and a game of few chances with Sheffield United winning 1-0. After losing to Olhanense B 2-1 (Neil McEwan) Brackley Saints B needed to win their last game of the day to secure a Quarterfinal place. Brackley Saints B beat TG Algarve 5-0 with Alan Smith (2), Michael Johnson (2) and even yours truly scoring! So Day One finished with Saints B having secured a Quarterfinal place and Saints A needing to beat Oxford United to be certain of a Quarterfinal place.
Tuesday 20 th March 2018 We all arrived at the ground to hear that Oxford United were going to field a weakened side against Brackley Saints A as Oxford had already qualified for the Quarterfinals Well thank you Ken but I don t think Day Two quite worked out as you thought it would. Brackley Saints A finished their league matches in style beating Oxford United 1-0 thanks to a wonderfully struck free kick by Jim Webb. Possibly the free kick of the tournament Jim. So, first objective achieved with both teams through to the Quarterfinals. The Quarterfinals Brackley Saints A faced off against Silver Coast A (whose only loss to date had been against Saints B). Unfortunately, Silver Coast A ran out convincing 5-1 winners. (Peter Cross getting the Saints only goal). Brackley Saints B, as luck would have it faced off against Oxford United (no doubt with their strongest possible line-up this time) but Hey-ho that didn t matter as we beat them 2-0 with Alan Smith and Michael Johnson scoring. Play-off Place Matches Not making the Semis meant you played two more games to decide the 5 th to 8 th positions. Brackley Saints A unfortunately lost their first play-off match 1-0 to Olhanense B however they finished the tournament on a high beating Browns 4-3 on penalties after drawing 2-2 at the end of normal time. Steve Grima and Stan Horlock scored during the game and Jim Webb, Steve Grima, Pete Emms and Steve Livings scoring the penalties. Pete Emms was the match winning penalty saving goalie. Semi-final Lots of pomp and ceremony with the teams parading out of the tunnel onto the pitch and being introduced to the gathered host. Once again Brackley Saints B lined up against Sheffield United, once again it was a game of few chances with Sheffield United once again beating us 1-0. Pleasingly Sheffield United went on to win the Final. Brackley Saints B s last game was a 3 rd /4 th place play-off where we were beaten by Silver Coast A 2-1 (Alan Smith scored once again to finish as our top goalscorer with 9 goals in 8 games, quite an achievement). Tournament over, feeling quite tired and very proud of ourselves we retired to the Stadium s restaurant for a very well-deserved meal and a few drinks.
The journey back on the coach to our hotel was very memorable especially the rendition of One-nil to the Brackley Boys, Two-nil to the Brackley Boys. Sung for the benefit of Ken and his Oxford United lads:
Wednesday 21 st March 2018 Similar to the previous year the last day of our trip was a relaxing/recovery day before our flight home and before we all get put back into the box for next year. However, before I finish this report, there are a couple of things I would like to share with you. Once again for the second year running Neil McEwan has done a fantastic job in making all the arrangements so a big thank you to Neil. The polo shirts organised by Peter Cross prompted loads of conversations with passers-by both at Luton Airport and in Portugal so thanks Peter. I will send a copy of this to Gary @ Algarve Football Tours as a reminder of the wonderful time we have had, thanks to him organising such a brilliant tournament so thanks Gary. I would like to say to all of you how extremely proud I am by our performances on the pitch and the camaraderie of it. Thanks And finally, if you saw my report last year you ll know I finished with a picture of Pete Cosentino and the Zimmer frame which became legendary. Once again, I ll finish my report with a picture of Pete, but this time without the Zimmer frame although I get the impression from that glint in his eyes - he s thinking about it. Cheers Mark