SWSCEngland2003's Xanga

Thursday, August 07, 2003

Thu, 07 Aug 2003 15:38:56 GMT

Oh my gosh - he's back!!!!

Well, after being internet-less since leaving Liverpool, I've taken the "tube" into downtown London to use an Internet cafe' and eat some great Italian food. The short story is that we got to Sheffield, played the Middleton Rovers and were annihilated by them. The funny thing was that the boys complained about the field we played on. It was better than any we play on in the States but it was, actually, the worst we played on in England to date. The team we played met us at 6:30pm because they all had to put in a full days work before they could get together to play a match against us. We played pretty poorly. It seems to be hot or cold with this bunch. The next day, however, we played the Sheffield United U16 Academy team and beat them 2-0. Yep, the same bunch of zombies that attempted to "play at" soccer the day before, came back to life to play as if these Academy Players had taken their mother's ball and wouldn't give it back. Nelson made a PK and Meckes slid one past the keeper from about 7 yards out. Not sure how this all works, but it would be nice if they'd settle down and play a bit more consistently. It sure would be easier on Roy, David and my nerves. They boys spent a day at a monster hue mall - yep, more replacement jerseys for you Mom's!! You are all so lucky to have such wonderful kids who do nothing but think about you each and every minute of every day - NOT!! A funny thing did happen to Danny at the mall. While in a large sorting good store, he was approached by a security officer and asked to accompany him to a back room where he was being detained for shoplifting!! He was sweating bullets for over 45 minutes while, it ends up, the security department reviewed the tapes and came to the conclusion that they had "detained in error." After apologizing to Daniel and groveling for a minute or two, the offered him a £50 gift certificate to not press charges against them. This being Danny's first time at being falsely accused of anything, he failed to recognize his opportunity to negotiate a settlement price and jumped at the chance to get a $110.00 (USD) pair of goalie gloves for free. He's decided that now that he knows how this all works, he'd like to arrange to be detained on a regular basis so he can get a complete set or Premier Replica home and away keeper jerseys, both long and short sleeves. I suggested that he not hold his breath. Well, it's time to go now. We have a game tomorrow at 11:00am and another Saturday at the same time. We'll try to get back here again to update you soon. Thanks for your patience while we were "down."

Sunday, August 03, 2003

Sun, 03 Aug 2003 22:30:56 GMT

Alright already. It's almost midnight as I start this post and I'm exhausted. The disco last night, according to reports from those present, was a big ZERO on a scale of 1 - 10, with 10 being absolutely the best ever and 1 being the worst possible. Oh well, it did give the parental units in charge a couple of hours of "kid less" time, so to speak.

This morning after breakfast was a morning of last minute clothes washing and general hanging out. This afternoon we went back to the fields for another scrimmage against the boys from Gibraltar. We played a bit better today, with the match ending 5-2 in our favor. After that, we watched the second half of overtime between a team from Manhattan, NY and a team from Liverpool playing in the U16 Finals. The Liverpool team won in overtime 2-1. The Liverpool team is the one that we traded in a 2 -0 lead for a 2 - 3 loss during bracket play. We should have and could have been there. Funny thing though, the boys didn't agree by playing up to their ability so... we weren't there. After that, we all came back home and did more general hanging out. There were three professional games on the big screen in the campus pub; soem went into town with three of the parental units to a smoke filled pub close to the dorms to watch the matches there. Some walked to town for the sole purpose of appropriating odds and ends, etc.

There was another Disco tonight, this one was on campus in the ground floor of the cafeteria building. Incidentally, we eat on the first floor. Over here, what you and I would refer to as a three-story building, actually has a ground floor, a first floor and a second floor. Now isn't that a neat little tidbit of unimportant and useless information?

Some of the boys had a tearful goodbye tonight... the GU19 team from Norway, along with 5 sets of parental units, their coach and trainer, left on a comfort coach to take them to the airport in Glasgow (spelling?) Scotland. They were going to catch a return flight home, a flight that lasts as much as 90 minutes. Your sons, well, at least some of your sons, were so distraught with this punishingly long flight that they offered to go in their stead, but were immediately turned down. Nice try, but no cigar, so to speak. Email addresses were exchanged, as well as hugs and kisses. Oh the wonder and excitement of youth. As Roy and I have discussed daily throughout this trip "Youth is wasted on the young." Can I hear an AMEN?

Tomorrow, we'll start on the next leg of our journey to Sheffield, where we'll stay at another university and play two games and see one. Some of the boys are already packed and ready to go. I'm not sure what the computer arrangements will be at the new location, so it may be a bit of time before I'm able to email those who've been writing, or to update the website. Good night to all those back home. We're missing you (I am, at least.) I just may see my bed before midnight tonight, but probably not. NOT!! Mr. Jordan just came in and we talked for 20 minutes. Oh well, maybe tomorrow night. Again, good night to you all.

Saturday, August 02, 2003

Sat, 02 Aug 2003 15:06:10 GMT

It's 1650 and we just got back for a quick shower and then we're off to dinner. The day started with breakfast, for those of us who woke up for it. The busses left at 1000 to travel back to the Liverpool Soccer Academy where we watched a combined team of 14, 15 & 16 year old Academy players compete against an U16 team from the Coventry Soccer Academy. I think that it's important that I give you all an idea of just how impressive this was to our boys... some of them slept on a grassy knoll while the game was on. It's not important who or how many. When you have a true and deep passion for this game, I guess you just can't get enough sleep. What's more, some of the boys think that their play is similar in many ways to the Academy team. Roy isn't exactly certain if he agrees with those boys assessment. Perhaps they need a bit more training before they should be doing any assessing on a professional level. After leaving the Academy, we came back to the dorms to pick up our kit (hey, that's the term used around here for uniforms, etc. - pretty cool, huh?) Then we went back to the fields where we played our three games in the tournament and met a U15 team from Gibraltar. Most of the boys played better than they had before. For those of you who keep track of these things, we were able to defeat the youngsters by a score of 3-2. We're trying to get another friendly game set up for tomorrow, but as of yet, have been unsuccessful. Tonight is a Disco at the local "Leisure Center." We'll be driving the boys, as well as picking them up. That way, we can be assured that they'll all make it back to bed at a decent time tonight (that bit of information is for the Maternal Parental Units.) It's time for me to sign off for now. Hope you're all well and feeling fine.

Friday, August 01, 2003

Fri, 01 Aug 2003 18:09:26 GMT

Well, here we are again, folks. Last night came and went. Enough said. This morning, after breakfast, we journeyed to Anfield, the famous home of the Liverpool Football Club. We went on a tour of the stadium and the locker room. We learned about the "KOP." Something I'll leave for your sons to explain to you when they return. We actually had a chance to visit the "Gift Shop." Oh, my gosh, Mom's. You just may be getting more than one of those nice replica jerseys. Maybe they would serve as a cute little nightie for you. They're a bit long on the boys, but probably not too long for you to sleep in. Well, enough of that. We returned from the tour in time to take off for a training session at the local park. We got back in time to shower and eat. Roy & Ken are off to a formal (of sorts) reception with the Lord Mayor of Liverpool. Black tie formal, except that it will be the silk screened t-shirt kind of tie and cumber bund (not real sure of the spelling on that one) set up for the Southwest SC representatives. It's tough to find a tux rental place around here. Tonight will be a kick back evening for the boys. We have a friendly match scheduled for tomorrow afternoon at 1500 (3:00pm,) with a team from Gibraltar. Funny, I don't think that many of the boys took, or at least remember anything from, world Geography. We'll have a test tonight and each boy will be asked if they know where Gibraltar is. Well, we'll see how that goes. It's been tough to get in to this computer room as there is only one password and username for the entire group of international teams staying here in Carnatic Hall. Ahh, another teaching moment - how our choices as individuals, whether good choices or not so good choices (more accurately translated as BAD), can actually have consequences for others, too. Because of the limited time I have here, it isn't looking too promising for pictures, although I will continue to attempt it. I had downloaded the software I need to get the pictures off of the camera, but the program has been wiped from the computer I used. I'll try again, this time trying to hide the program in a file buried on the hard drive. We'll see how good I am at beating this thing - all just for you, the friendly and curious American folks, sitting at home in beautiful downtown Temecula (and surrounding areas) basking in the bright warm sunshine (except for the fact that I know it's been raining there, too.) Well, I'm going to sign off now. Thanks to those who've been taking the time to feedback. It's nice to read that you've been reading the adventures of the BU16/17 team, abroad in England, representing Southwest Soccer Club and the good ol' USA!

By the way, did I tell you that it's really weird driving on the right side of the vehicle, on the left side of the road, all the while shifting a manual five speed transmission with your left hand? Yes, I thought I did, but nothing has changed in regards to that. It's still really weird. Bye!

Thursday, July 31, 2003

Thu, 31 Jul 2003 18:13:25 GMT

Thursday, 31 July, 2003 1909

Well, we've worked it out so we get a wee bit of computer time again. The computer room has been closed and "off limits" since my last post yesterday morning. Seems we had a bit of an "issue" with some of the very young ones from another country. Evidently, they were quite adept at breaking (or navigating around) the University internet firewall. Some pretty provocative pictures were displayed on the monitors, probably ones that most of you parents would not have approved of too very much. We have been given our own password by the University IT department and instructed that no one but adults are allowed to use the computer and only during the time that the proctor is at the front desk (0800 - 2330.) The boys, if they have one of us present, can take turns using the email only - and only one at a time. No internet usage other than email.

Now, as far as an update on the boys progress at the tournament. We're out in three games. Lost yesterday and today, to much inferior teams, I might add. The learning experience could be invaluable, but it would be up to each one of the boys to decide if that will be the case for them as individuals. Yesterday, we gave up a two goal lead to lose 2-3. Today, we couldn't score at all - losing 0-2. The game in England is very violent at this level, as Roy warned everyone going in. Play, for the most part, is allowed to go on, with very few whistles and even fewer cards. Today, however, was an exception. The team we played was issued at least 9 cautions, we received three. The boys, for the most part, held their cool and we're proud of that. You parents know who the most likely ones on the BU16's are to blow up and start swearing and sluggin' but in all three games - there were NO ISSUES!!! Roy was very happy with that. He told me that this time last year, at least three boys would have been sent off the field for retaliation, foul and abusive language or violent conduct. That is proof solid of growth and maturity in this team. Roy singled out each one and commended him for his self control under such extreme pressure under "foreign" circumstances. There are some very good things that came from this experience.

This afternoon, we drove to the Liverpool Football Academy. One of the six best such academys in all of soccer today. Here, we had a personal tour by the director, Steve Heighway. One of the greatest football players in Liverpool history. Steve used to play for Roy, along with two other coaches at The Academy. What a place!! They have ten outdoor "pitches" in absolutely immaculate condition, as well as an indoor artificial surface training center and an outdoor artificial surface pitch as well. Full cafeteria, two full time "physio's" on staff, weight and speed training facility, locker rooms for all age groups, etc. etc. etc. As young as 8 years old, boys within an hour and a half driving distance of Liverpool are identified as "candidates" to enter The Football Academy. Those candidates are then offered to "sign" with the Liverpool Club. If they do, they are given daily training at The Academy by professional coaches, at 5:00pm each day. At the age of 16, they could be selected to stay for daily football, along with academic training, too. Kind of like a full time soccer camp that gives you high level academic training at the same time. Nothing like this in the states, not in any sport. Again, I'm not quite sure if the boys have any idea as to just how big an experience this was to have had. If not now, hopefully it will sink in as time goes on and they'll look back at the time they traveled to Liverpool and visited with the great Steve Heighway at the world famous Liverpool Football Academy.

We got back from The Academy just in time to catch dinner. By the way, the breakfast is the same each day, assorted cereals, coffee & tea, with milk, of course, but the milk is NOT for drinking, just for tea or cereal. We have sunny side up eggs, sausage and/or bacon - wow are they ever salty and greasy! There's toast, and potato cakes, too. Fresh fruit is apples and bananas. Canned is grapefruit and apricots. For lunch, well, we've been mostly hanging out at "The Office," which is The Rose of Mossley Pub, just down the street. That way we can have a pint (of soda) and be able to walk back to the dorms (Carnatic Hall), not taking a chance by drinking and driving those vans I've previously described to you. That small neighborhood pub has a daily lunch special, where you can order two complete lunches for the price of one - £5.95 = approximately $10.00 or $5.00 a piece. The boys have been able to choose from Steak and Ale Pie, a half pound cheeseburger with "chip." ("Don't nick the chips!") a slice of rump roast or noodles with tomatoes (spaghetti.) Dinners on campus (which the tournament officials added to our package for no additional cost,) have been varied, with fish, Indian food (curry) beef, lasagna and pizza, etc. (I said "etc." because I'm getting tired of typing and want to leave, so I'm done with the food talk, Moms.) The boys have done their laundry once, yesterday afternoon. You'd be so proud, I think - I didn't watch. I'm thinking about going to their rooms, one at a time, and taking a picture of each one. We'll post them, if I ever get the time. It will be your job to try and pick out which room is your son's. That out to be a neat trick. I used the word "neat" as "interesting" or "special," having absolutely nothing to do with "tidy!"

We're off tomorrow - actually, even if we went through to the semi's, that would have been the case. Everyone is off tomorrow. We've got an appointment at 1030 to tour Anfield, the world famous home of Liverpool. That may have about the same effect on the boys, though, I expect. Not too much excitement seen so far, but maybe that's because of their overall performance in their games here. Roy is so good with the boys, a true "teacher." "This sport is no different than any other life experience, isn't it? There is always something to be learned and gained from everything we go through - winning or losing. If we don't seek those things out and learn from them, our time has been a bit of a waste, hasn't it?"

Still having a great time - one experience after another. Hope to post tomorrow.

Wednesday, July 30, 2003

Wed, 30 Jul 2003 06:46:09 GMT

Good morning! (For us, that is - good evening, for most of you.)

1. Left the room to go eat breakfast - no rain, bits of sunshine.

2. Ate breakfast.

3. Left the cafeteria to walk back to the room - POURING RAIN!

4. Leaving to play (watch the boys, that is) in 20 minutes.

5. I'ts getting clearer why everything is green here.

6. Thanks very much for the replies.

Planning on getting back with you later this afternoon.

Tuesday, July 29, 2003

Tue, 29 Jul 2003 20:39:55 GMT

It's about 2231 (11:31pm) and we just got back from the Lord Mayor's Reception and a professional game. What an amazing Hall is St. George's. They have done an incredible amount of restoration to the building. They also went full boat to welcome all the international teams participating in this tournament. Pretty exciting. Based on the number of our players either sleeping or nodding, it may not mean as much to them now as, hopefully, it will in the future as they look back.

OUTSIDE ST. GEORGE'S HALL BEFORE RECEPTION

(Boy, are we ever happy to be here!)

We went under the Mersey River to see the Tranmere Rovers, a Division 2 team, beat the Preston North End, by a score of 2 - 1. The tournament was able to get the boys tickets for £2 each, the adults only paid £5. Pretty goo discount. It was pretty cool watching upper division play. It will be even better when we get to London and see the game scheduled for the Sunday after next.

THE "KOP" AT THE TRANMERE ROVERS GROUND

Our game tomorrow is with a team that should give us a bit more trouble than the one we played today did. Kick-off is 10:00am. Roy told the boys that lights out tonight was 11:45pm, be at breakfast for fruit, cereal and toast at 8:00am. The mini buss will be leaving at 9:00am. The fields are a short 10 minute walk from the "dorms."

Wonder if anyone is reading this. I'll keep writing in case you are. Bye for tonight.

Tuesday, July 29, 2003

Tue, 29 Jul 2003 14:36:31 GMT

BT Liverpool-Knowsley International Youth Soccer Tournament

MATCH #1 - Final Score

Southwest SC Elite 2 vs Merseyside Real Santos 1

Scores by Alex Herman and Cody Bowers

Let's hear it for Scott Herman (Connie's busy on her own private vacation and wouldn't attend the game.)

Let's hear it for JoAnn. (Mom's really deserve and should get all the recognition.)

SOUTHWEST SC and MERSEYSIDE REAL SANTOS

(Photo taken prior to the start of the match. Everyone is wet and still smiling.)

We're off to dinner now, then to meet the Lord Mayor in a ceremony at St.George's Hall in downtown Liverpool. The boys are all dressed up in their white SWSC shirts and blue trousers - looking sharp, then off to see a preseason premiership game - Tranmere Rovers. We have to go through a tunnel that goes under the Mersey River - you know, "Ferry, 'cross the Mersey." Well, now it's "Mini Buss, under the Mersey..." You get my drift?

Monday, July 28, 2003

Mon, 28 Jul 2003 16:02:59 GMT

A day's come and gone since my last update. Yesterday, Mr. Jordan and I drove to the airport in Manchester to pick up the Bussens. Getting there was no problem because I was able to follow another person who was going just north of where the airport is. David and Michael arrived without a hitch, except for the fact that British Airways, on strike, or going to be on strike soon, left one of the boy's bags, along with Ken's bag, that was originally left at his home on Thursday, in London. They assured us that they would have the missing bags transported to our Dorms in Liverpool by the end of the day and... they were! Good job, British Airways - somewhat.

While I was having my adventure to and from Manchester, I was missing the boys game they had yesterday, a friendly against a British group of boys who are trying out for a team and an opportunity to go to the Dallas Cup next year. It was, basically, tryouts for the boys who our boys played against. Football is very fast and very physical here. No, that's not entirely true, I'll re-phrase. Football is VERY, VERY, EXTREMELY, VERY FAST here and VERY, VERY, EXTREMELY, VERY PHYSICAL here. The boys played to a 2-2 draw. We were both given and both made a penalty kick. For those parents on the BU16's who may be wondering, I'm happy to report that no one was Sent Off. No one was even Cautioned. Not too bad, especially because they were being pretty roughed up. No offence intended to the ladies, but the English have a saying I've heard here - "Football is a man's game."

Well, the trip back from Manchester Airport was, to say the least, an adventure. You see, the signs are designed and placed for people who have no need to look at them while they're driving. They are normally positioned behind other unimportant signs, or, more often than that, behind over grown bushes or tree branches. Not too big of a deal, really, if you think that no one except of few tourists, like the short, fat, ugly, balding, Italian man who's trying to keep you up to date on your sons and their escapades, really uses or needs them. As far as these things called "round-a-bouts," well, if I was able to get a birds-eye-view of them, and was not having such a pleasant time mastering the right hand drive, with left hand shift, from the left side of the road, maybe I could be better.

Basically, I had a disaster of a time getting back from the airport. We had "acquired" a 1999 map of Britain from a lady we met, but it was too large of scale (not enough detail,) and not much help. I ended up in a small community, the name of which escapes me, and pulled into the parking lot of a supermarket (yeah - super - not!) Without going into all the details, the short version of the story is that I "bumped" into another car. Holy Cow! I love this place. She was so nice and so very understanding. Actually, I've improved. I didn't hit anyone today. The boys didn't say it, but I really do think they're proud of me. So far, we have met so many polite, nice, helpful, pleasant, intensely cutting sarcastic personality types that I am still able to report that I am having a great time, in spite of the events I've been involved with to date.

I am happy to report to you that the balance of the boys, yesterday afternoon, had a quite different experience than the Bussen gents, and Mr. Jordan and myself had. Roy and Ken loaded them up into the other mini bus and drove to Chester to see a monster Cathedral and do some "sale shopping." Please don't tell them that I told you so, but I think that some of you Mom's just may be getting replica jerseys. Life just doesn't get any better than this, does it? They're priced at 50% to 75% less than we can buy them in the States. Some were bought for as low as £5 (5 Pounds Sterling = +/- $7.60 USD.)

I'm late for dinner now. It's 1802 and we're supposed to be there at 1730. They stop serving at 1830. I'm going to stop now. The boys play their first match tomorrow and 2:00pm against a team from Liverpool. More details to come. Thanks for reading.

Saturday, July 26, 2003

Sat, 26 Jul 2003 10:48:31 GMT

Greetings from Liverpool! We made it - safely, too. It's 12:35pm our time - 8 hours earlier where you are - around 4:35am, I suppose. After the long delay taking off from LAX, and the very long flight across the Atlantic Ocean, we finally arrived at London's Heathrow Airport. We landed at 10:00am and got off the plane at 11:00am - little problem with not having a place for our jet at the terminal. They parked us out in the middle of the tarmac and brought up a ladder (of sorts) to allow us to disembark the plane (jet.) After making it down the stairs, we were invited to board mini busses that took us to the terminal - yes siree - all of this for no additional charge from the wonderful people of England. It wouldn't have been so bad, but it was raining. Roy met us, having been successful at renting (hiring in England) two mini busses that seat 15 each, instead of the four cars we had reserved. We then proceeded to drive the 5+ hours from London to Liverpool. The only problem was that it took much longer than 5+ hours because of the... yes, you guessed it, TRAFFIC. What the English have been able to do is, surprisingly, clone the 91 freeway between the 15 and the 55 week days at 7:30am. You ask was there traffic? - oh my God!! Yes, there was traffic. The mini busses were diesel five speed manual transmissions, too. As you're all aware, we drive on the left side of the road now, from the right side of the vehicle. The pedals are in the same order, as is the pattern of the shift. The weird thing is shifting with your left instead of right hand. This may mean absolutely nothing to those inexperienced in the art of driving with a manual transmission. Interesting, to say the least. The signals light in this order... RED - YELLOW - GREEN. Yep, the English want to caution you that it is almost time for you to GO, so please be ready. The accommodations here are wonderful. Each of the boys has his own room, with a sink and small closet. There are individual and separate "rooms" in each hallway for taking a shower and depositing "day old food and drink." After checking in and unpacking, most of us went for a walk. We found Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields, something that would only make sense and be significant to Parental Units. The boys were definitely NOT impressed. Everyone I asked said they slept well. We were up at 7:00am, off to breakfast and then to train at a local park. We're about ready to go now, at 1:00pm, to downtown Liverpool. We'll be crusing the town, looking for chicks, well, some of us will be. The boys have already come to the conclusion that Liverpool girls are so much more attractive than those we saw in London. I only mentioned this because it was a real concern with some parents that their boys are only here for the futbol. Fear not, the boys are maintaining the well rounded life you've brought them up to live. We have a scrimmage set for tomorrow (Sunday) against an U19 team. Should be interesting, at least. The boys have found the computer room in the dorms and most have logged on to get their email, so you can send them one if you haven't already. We're going to try to get to the JVC website and download the software we need to upload the photos from the digital camera to Ken's laptop. If we're successful at this, we'll be adding pictures soon. Ken and Blaine may be trying to get in touch with the Bussens, too, so they might be able to stop by the Smith's and pick up the disk, along with Ken's suitcases. If you read this early enough, let them know. I'm going to email Gail my cell phone number in England. She'll forward it to everyone. I don't want it posted here where it will be broadcast all over the stinking Internet. We're off to search for our first satelite office now. We need a very special place to conduct business meetings while here in Liverpool. Bye!

Aaahhhh - our first satelite office, located just a short walk from the residence halls.

Ken to Roy... "Please, sir, may we stop training? I beg of you!"