St Albans Disability Team Tour Report   Under 18's West Tour Report   Under 18's Ladies Tour Report

Under 16's Girls Tour Report   Holland 2009 Image Gallery

Euro Tour St Albans Disability

Schiebroek ’94 Football Tournament

City Disability Conquer Europe

St Albans City Youth Disability returned triumphant from their first overseas trip to the Schiebroek ’94 football tournament held in Rotterdam on 30 April and 1 May 2009.

A strong City team dominated their Dutch opponents Schiebroek ’94, Vredenbruch and Capelle Zwervers winning five games and drawing one without conceding a goal. Leading scorers Rob Drew (seven goals) and Anthony Roche (six goals) led the way with City scoring a total of seventeen goals in the tournament. All the City squad contributed to the success but a special mention goes to Toby Smith whose hard work and unselfish team play earned him City’s player of the tournament. Full match by match reports Click here

Manager Dan Rogers said “The team is very grateful to our hosts for their generosity and hospitality. I was very proud of all the players who conducted themselves impeccably throughout and fully deserved to win the tournament. After 4 years hard work it is great for the team to win its first trophy as we build towards entering a disability team into a mainstream league next season. Any disability players interested in joining the team should contact me on 07504 953 014.

City squad – H. Fryer, H. Brown, G. Darling, P. Bishop, K. O’Kane, T. Smith, A. Roche, T. Ward, R. Drew, T. Christmas

30 April 2009

Match One
St Albans 3 Schiebroek ’94 0

St Albans controlled the game from start to finish, preventing their hosts from even having a shot. The dominant team performance was led by man of the match Toby Smith whose workrate and drive from midfield provided the platform for the attacking players to express themselves.

City opened the scoring with a long range drive from Rob Drew which was the best goal of the day. After going close from a number of corners City scored their second when Smith turned in another quality delivery from Anthony Roche. The third came as Roche drilled in a freekick after a foul on Kieron O’Kane. City had further chances but were unable to add to their lead, being denied by a combination of good goalkeeping and the woodwork.

Match Two
St Albans 5 Vredenbruch 0

City were even more dominant in their second game as a Hayden Brown inspired defence prevented Vredenbruch leaving their own half for long periods of the game. Brown was also unlucky not to score with a header against the bar from a corner.

The scoring was again opened by Drew, turning on an O’Kane pass and coolly slotting into the far corner. Drew then turned provider for the second, chasing down a long pass out of defence from Gary Darling before crossing from the right for Roche to volley in from close range. Darling also played a part in the third, breaking from defence and playing in Drew for a controlled finish. Tom Christmas then came close a number of times before scoring a well deserved goal. After being played in by Roche, Christmas dummied the keeper twice before flicking the ball home. The icing on the cake for City was the fifth, with Christmas playing an exquisite pass over the defence for Roche to volley home from the tightest of angles.

Man of the match was Kieron O’Kane for his all round performance.

Match Three
St Albans 4 Capelle Zwervers 0

The last game of the first day was changed at the last minute to 9-a-side, but City took the change in their stride. For the third game running Rob Drew opened the scoring, for his fourth of the day. Capelle came close to scoring on a breakaway but were denied by a fine save form Hayden Fryer. Not to be outdone by Drew, Roche then scored his fourth of the day crashing home a loose ball in the box. The best goal of the game was scored by O’Kane with a fine solo effort, picking the ball up inside his own half he dribbled down the wing before cutting inside, going past 4 men in the process before flicking the ball home with the outside of his boot.

Man of the match was Hayden Fryer who maintained his concentration to make his first save in 3 games at a vital stage in the game.

1 May 2009

Match Four
St Albans 2 Schiebroek ’94 0

Day two started as the last day had finished with City dominating their nearest challengers for the title. Despite feeling unwell all morning City captain Anthony Roche led the way with a man of the match performance, driving the team forward from the wing.

It was Roche who opened the scoring, running onto Pete Bishop’s pass over the defence before thumping a volley past the helpless keeper from 15 yards out. City doubled their lead shortly afterwards when Roche broke down the left wing before firing in a low cross which was turned into his own net by one of the defenders. Schiebroek ’94 were thankful to their goalkeeper for a series of excellent saves which kept the score down, including one very brave save at the feet of Drew.

Match Five
St Albans 4 Vredenbruch 0

City secured the win they needed to guarantee first place in the tournament with an inspired Rob Drew hattrick. The first came from a defence splitting pass from Roche which Drew advanced onto before sliding the ball under the keeper. The second was set up by O’Kane, with Drew again finishing well. Drew then completed his hattrick, latching onto another Roche assist and finishing from a tight angle. The fourth was added immediately afterwards as Roche won the ball immediately from the Vredenbruch kick off, beat 4 men with a slaloming run before finishing under the advancing keeper. The goal was Roche’s 40th of the season in all competitions.

Match Six
St Albans 0 Capelle Zwervers 0

After securing the tournament with victory in game five this was definitely a case of after the Lord Mayor’s show for City. After five victories based on hard work and team work too many City players were playing for individual glory and the result was a reflection of that.

City were still able to create some good chances with Tom Ward coming close after good build up play from Drew. The Capelle keeper also made two fine saves from point blank range to deny Roche. In the end City were grateful to their keeper Hayden Fryer for securing the draw, making only his second save in six games but ensuring his goal was not breached throughout the two days.

St Albans Tournament Summary

Man of the tournament Toby Smith

Man of the match awards Hayden Fryer (2), Toby Smith, Kieron O’Kane, Anthony Roche, Rob Drew

Goal scorers Rob Drew (7), Anthony Roche (6), Toby Smith (1), Kieron O’Kane (1), Tom Christmas (1), og (1)

Assists Anthony Roche (5), Kieron O’Kane (4), Pete Bishop (2), Rob Drew (1), Gary Darling (1), Tom Christmas (1)

Goal of the tournament A matter of heated debate between Rob Drew, Kieron O’Kane and Anthony Roche!

Highlights of the Trip

Dan Rogers – “thank you to the staff, Anthony, Kieron and Pete, for a smooth run few days, thank you to the hosts for their generosity, kindness and hospitality, finally I would like to thank every single player for their heard work, commitment and exceptional behaviour which made the trip very enjoyable”

Hayden Fryer – “the team working really well together and winning our first trophy”

Hayden Brown – “going abroad for the first time, meeting new people, contributing to the team and winning the tournament in my first season at the club”

Gary Darling – “really enjoyed everything, working and bonding with my teammates and contributing to winning the tournament”

Pete Bishop – “fantastic hosts, friendly people and had an enjoyable time”

Kieron O’Kane – “wonderful experience, returning as Champions of Europe and enjoying the strengthened bond created between the City players”

Toby Smith – “I enjoyed the kindness of the hosts and making new friends, crying with laughter on the last night and learning how many of my teammates snore, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah” [that last bit being an in-joke on one of the sounds of the trip…]

Anthony Roche – “the generosity of spirit of our hosts who treated us so well, the relaxed atmosphere, pride in the players who were a credit to themselves and the club…and our first trophy after 4 years of work”

Tom Ward – “the team playing really well, enjoyed the place where we stayed and making new friends, the hosts being really nice to us and I played well”

Rob Drew – “I loved every moment of the four days, everyone was really friendly and kind to us, I made new friends, Holland was very nice…as were the women, everyone behaved really well on and off the pitch, and I appreciate what Dan and the coaches have done for all of us”

Tom Christmas – “I got a good tan on my face, met a really good bloke called Patrick from the Schiebroek ’94 team and the hosts were really friendly and looked after us well”
 

Euro Tour  - U18's West

Tinus Homburg Trophy

rsv Hion, Rotterdam, Holland.

Under 18's West report coming soon