Stamford Strollers 65s @ Eurocopa 26

The tournament squad that travelled to Albufeira, Portugal was:

• Peter Oppenheimer GK

• Dave Guest

• Paul Blakemore

• Jimmy Watson

• Paul Humphries

• John Phythian

• Jez Norris

• Carl Richards

• Brian Dunkerley

• Tim Marsden Cap

Day 1 6 league matches

10.00 V Sheffield WFD L 0-3

11.15 V Casa Benfica D 1-1 (Paul Humphries)

12.30 V Scarborough Barons Won 5-0 (Humphries 2, Jez Norris, Dave Guest, John Phythian)

13.45 V Drumchapel (Scotland) D 1-1 (Humphries)

15.00 V Bolton LVH L 1-0

15.50 V Culcheth L 2-0

Overall Strollers experienced a very mixed day 1. Sheffield WFD were a very strong side and although Strollers played well Sheffield scored 3 very good goals to win comfortably.

Casa Benfica were a decent but beatable team and Strollers controlled much of the game, but went behind against the run of play. Paul Humphries breaking forward from midfield scored a deserved equaliser.

Against Scarborough Barons everything flew in for Strollers, especially Jez Norris’ strike from just inside the Scarborough half that flew into the roof of the Yorkshiremen’s net. This turned out to be the biggest win at Eurocopa for at least 2 years.

Drumchapel were typically tenacious and technical at the same time and it took another goal from Humphries to earn a hard fought draw. Somehow Carl Richards, making his Tour debut, earned a blue card for simply refusing the over friendly attentions of his Scottish marker.

Our last 2 game were against the top 2 teams in our group, despite 2 resolute performances Strollers went down 1-0 to Bolton and 2-0 to Culcheth.

So at the end of day 1, it was felt, 5 points from the 6 games played was scant reward for the effort and performances of the players.

So we needed at least 1 win and 1 draw from our 3 league games day 2 to make it into the Trophy knock out for teams that finished 5^th to 8^th in the 2 groups of 10. 1^St to 4^th in the 2 groups made up the Cup, and 7^th to 8^th played off for the plate.

Day 2

10.20 V Coedpoeth D 1-1, despite dominating this one and going ahead through Humphries the Welshmen equalised at the death.

11.10 V East Riding L 2-1, despite more than matching another of the top teams Strollers ended up the wrong end of a close match, Norris notching.

12.00 V Quarteriense W 3-0, we needed to win this one against the Portuguese, in front of the cameras, which we did in some style. Tim Marsden grabbed the first striking a loose ball into the roof of the net, Paul Blakemore then set up Norris to confidently finish and for the third Marsden set up Jimmy Watson to score from distance.

The last result guaranteed Strollers a Trophy quarter final V Malaga. Strollers started on top and Humphries had the ball in the net only for it to be ruled out for encroachment into the Malaga area. Malaga then went up the other end and took the lead from the edge of the Strollers area, given! Not to be denied Strollers put the Malaga defence under pressure and following too much Malaga running we were awarded a penalty, Dave Guest giving the keeper no chance 1-1, so to pens. Norris, Watson and Guest all scoring confidently, and Peter Oppenheimer pulling off a brilliant 1 handed save to give Strollers a 3-2 win on pens.

So onward and upward game 11 of the Eurocopa for Strollers V Sheffield Mosbro which proved to be a game too far, Mosbro cruising through 4-0.

Overall a top tournament, excellent organisation, pitches and facilities, with the standard a notch higher than last season where Strollers lost in the semi final of the Cup. Our hotel, facilities, breakfast, service and transfers etc all spot on. Nights out, food and drink fantastic value for money, plus great company!

Last but not least, hats off to John Pythian for getting us all there and back in one piece.

A video of the tournament can be viewed here..

View Video