LISC U14 Boys European Tour

Complete Collection of Euro Trip Mini Movies

Here, sports fans, is the special edition boxed complete anniversary collection of every single mini movie captured on our European Soccer trip.

Enjoy

Robert

Another belated installment. During our European tour I took some short videos with my older model Sony Cybershot, essentially a still camera with video capability. It worked nicely for very short bits. Here are two short video clips from our stay at the Seacrest Hotel in Whitley Bay, one documenting the violent enthusiasm of those playing the card game spoons, the other documenting how we all would just hang out in the lobby of the Seacrest, playing cards, pool, chatting, and every once and a while getting the bartender's attention for a libation.

best

Robert



http://guava.cites.uiuc.edu/r-baird/spoonwars.mpg



http://guava.cites.uiuc.edu/r-baird/seacrest_evenings.mpg

You may not know, but two of our parents, John and Nancy, had to return home after the first tournament. So they would not feel left out, Leslie had written the following entry to them. Well in all the excitement I neglected to post it then. So I post it now, with my apologies.

Our journey already fades as we resume our daily lives...Best from,
Erich

"Dear Nancy & John,

Did you think we'd let you off the hook?

Since you've left, we haven't been able to play spoons, however, Billy has taken over all Euchre instruction.

Nancy, the dessert spoons tonight were large and heavy -- even you would have had trouble. (And, btw, Ann's wounds have healed nicely. Very little scarring.)

John, the beach rocks here are sand stone. Is that valuable? (We've all filled 1 gallon freezer bags believing you would have said yes.)

Cheers,

Leeeezleeee and the lads and lasses"

Hey all,

By now you know the story, we made it home safe and sound. But we put in 24 hours straight under way in one shape or form before we pulled into the Assembly Hall parking lot that hot Monday night. Click the link below to see the last of my photos from that day.

http://homepage.mac.com/erichadickes/PhotoAlbum69.html

Many say that Whitley Bay has seen better days. I say, goodbye Whitley Bay, your best is still before you.

Robert

We split up into 2 groups today, some of us visiting the castle at Alnwick, some of us going to downtown Newcastle and the Tyne River. Here are some shots of Newcastle.

best

Robert

HEllo folks,

We are just posting this before we try to get some sleep. We'll be catching the bus to Manchester at three tomorrow morning. So we'll be up at two.Aren't you glad that you aren't with us for that part of our journey?

Robert is posting pics of where his group went today.I'm posting pics from Alnwick Castle and garden. You may remember this is where they filmed Harry Potter. While Harry was not in, Albus Dumbledore and Hagrid were. Take a look and we'll post more tomorrow during our lay overs.

Best,

Erich

A quick shot taken the day before when these local English girls found our boys a novelty.

At the end of the Wallsend game Coach Wingo told the boys they had ascended to a higher level of play and teamwork and that this would be evident in months and years to come. The boys gave three shouts to their parents who helped get them here. And we offer now our thanks to those on the homefront, who kept us in their thoughts and hearts.

Just to prove to you that things are a bit different in England we offer images of a car, mail box, front yard, and quick stop.

best

Robert

Walking into the fields this morning LISC assumed they would be playing Whitley Bay Boys Club, but found themselves against Wallsend Boys Club, considered the best team in the area. Wallsend were simply a very talented team, who supported one another off the ball and who used their touches carefully to move the ball around the pitch and into the attack. Two of their goals came off nicely placed corner kicks. At one point, Wallend scored a pair of goals within minutes of one another. Credit to late, strong play by Billy Regan and Kaleb Walker, who challenged Wallsend and helped create a few chances in the 2nd half. LISC were perhaps a bit tired in the legs after 2 weeks of travel and 12 games, but Wallsend Boys Club is apparently rarely beaten throughout this area and should cruise on to win the tournament. While speaking to a man who played for Wallsend as a boy he explained that the Wallsend club itself is a small building that has been the same since the 1970s, but that the club has produced professional players over the years worth at least 300 to 500 million dollars, with Alan Shearer playing for Wallsend at one point.

In a nice end to the tournament, LISC were awarded the Fair Play or "Best Sporting Team" trophy, which is voted upon by each of the teams at the conclusion of each game. During the entire Whitley Bay tournament LISC played hard but never drew a single card.

Heads held high, LISC U14s are a stronger and better team than just 2 weeks ago, with memories to last a lifetime.

best

Robert Baird



(note we are missing a few kids who went to buy Whitley Bay Football Tournament T-shirts)

In some areas the terrace homes have streets in front wide enough for cars. In other areas, the old lanes were wide enough for wagons and carts, but not now wide enough for autos. Here is a shot of a front lane, blocked to restrict car traffic, but plenty of room for kids and bikes and a soccer ball or two.

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Robert

Mark, our wonderful host where we currently post to the web, tells us that the terrace homes were originally built by the coal companies for their workers. Each has a back yard and a smaller front area. Most of the terrace homes in Whitley Bay have various types of landscaping in their front gardens. While some have gone to seed, most are nicely done and each one seems to express its owner's attempt at uniqueness. Seeing what humans can do, creatively, with limited space is a pleasure. Here for comparision, are just a few of the front gardens in Whitley Bay.

best

Robert

Once again, our action photographer Erich Adickes brings us match day snaps.

This LISC U14 team reminds me of the old ABC Sports television opening fanfare that spoke of the “agony and ecstasy of sports” and today’s match held both, but in the proper order, ending with the ecstasy, a last minute goal by AJ Sikorski. Fighting tooth and nail throughout and working through a 15 minute downpour in the 1st half, LISC hung on in a game where Cramlington dominated play for minutes at a time.

Aggressive play by both teams led to a spirited match, with 2 yellow cards for Cramlington players and some hard knocks for both teams. Cramlington, who are the club that were the home of the great Alan Shearer as a young player, were strong on the ball and created a number of chances and dangerous free kicks, and would have been justified in a tie or win, but it was an LISC stubborn hope into the final minute that led to a goal. Goalie Mark Pataky had a number of important saves. Playing a 4-4-2 with a change at the back of Tim Parks as left back and Victor Martinez, Dean Adickes, and Sean Baird filling out the line, LISC were able to hold Cramlington scoreless. Miguel Manero and Scot Chapman were very active in the midfield. Stefan Wingo carried the day at many points during the match, fighting defensively and building up LISC's attack when no one else was at the ready. Martin Musurana and Kadeem Bridgewater were spirited in their pressure on Cramlington’s offensive build up. Coming on in the 2nd half, John Munson, Michael DeLucia, and Nick Congdon kept LISC fresh.

With a victory in their last game, LISC finish 4th in their group, earning a knock-out game at noon on Saturday against Whitley Bay Boys Club A team, 1st place in the top group of the U14 division. 3 wins and LISC would be champions of the tournament. We will see if the boys can dig deep and rise to yet another level of play and confidence.

Robert Baird

This is just to remind folks of the link to Erich's photo pages:

http://homepage.mac.com/erichadickes/

Erich uses this same page when he adds new games and days.

best

Robert

Everything is a bit different in England. Here on the tournament grounds the concessions are interesting, more like what you might see at a state fair in the US. For lunch today, Sean, Martin, Michael, and John had hamburgers and chips from these vendors, but also chips and curry (very good) and Leslie bought some tiny fried doughnuts that were quite good. If you are ever starving in England and need to walk 10 miles I suggest a batch of chips and curry. Jan took Mark and Scot and some of the other boys to a shop that sells pocket sandwhiches, in the style of chicken pot pies back home, with steak, chicken, and so forth: very good. Others had fish and chips. The English cuisine tends to grow on you.

best

Robert

LISC fell 3 to 0 to Whitley Bay, with the local lads attacking fiercely, scoring in the 3rd minute following a quick run by Whitley Bay's strong right striker. Two more goals in the the 1st half, from a well-placed corner and a very close call from a penalty kick given in the box, gave Whitley Bay their total points for the match. Whitley Bay played strong throughout and defended their home ground with intensity. Unable to gain a goal at the beginning of the 2nd half, LISC and Whitley Bay settled down to a battle for the midfield and few good scoring opportunities in the second half. LISC had difficulties establishing an offensive attack and had few corners or close assaults on the goal.

It's unclear at the moment if a win in their second and last game of the day will give LISC enough points to make the top 4 of their bracket to move into the competition play. Failing that, LISC will begin a consolation bracket Saturday morning.

Robert Baird

Tonight we are playing spoons, cards, and chatting in the Seacrest. Here is a single photo, but I have a video of the dangerous game of spoons and will upload that when I have a better internet connection. We are sitting, at night, in a store entry way tieing into the local Whitley Bay wireless "street net," homeless geeks in action. Winner of this round: Mary Regan, who beat all the LISC boys handily.

best

Robert

In what might be their best ever performance, LISC held Darlington FC to a 0 – 0 tie. Darlington, likely the best team in their division in this tournament, and also a club whose younger teams feed into an English Division 1 professional team, were held scoreless and were frustrated by one of the most concentrated efforts of the American team’s career. Darlington earned at least 3 yellow cards, reflecting their frustration with the assertive play of LISC, who earned no cards and won the majority of the free kicks. While the larger team, Darlington nonetheless seemed to have trouble with LISC’s athletic assertiveness. In a key match up on the right side of the midfield, John Munson, giving up a good foot or more to a Darlington midfielder, won most tackles and even moved the ball deep into the Darlington corner, earning LISC a number of key corner kicks and chances.

Reverting to the traditional 4-4-2 formation from their standard 3-4-3 (with Martinez, Adickes, Wingo, and Baird at the back), LISC was solid, allowing Darlington only a few chances per half, with goalie Mark Pataky always on his line and justly earning the shut out. LISC fought for a number of free kicks at the top of the box, with Tim Parks bending a few shots on frame, although the Darlington keeper was always well positioned throughout the game for the save. With AJ Sikorski coming on once again up top after a solid performance from Kedeem Bridgewater, LISC had a number of good runs off the ball and some chances in front of the Darlington goal mouth that caused moments of panic for the English defenders. LISC forwards and midfielders such as Martin Musurana, Scot Chapman, and Miguel Manero harried the Darlington attack with constant pressure. Especially frustrating for Darlington seemed to be pressure applied by the LISC forwards to the Darlington back line. Making substitutions and moving players around late in the 2nd half did not help Darlington win a goal, as LISC kept to their successful formula throughout the match, celebrating their tie with Darlington at game’s close as if it were one of their best victories.

With a loss, tie, and win, LISC go into Friday’s games needing only, perhaps, a win in a double-header, or 2 ties, to make the top 4 of 6 team bracket. The top 4 teams advanced to the champions tournament. The bottom 2 teams play consolation games.

While the boys ate their American meal of the day (Subway) I crossed the street to take a shot of Tom Owen's Class 1 Fruit and Veg. Now you in the states have probably only seen a class 2 or 3 fruit and veg, but here's a class 1 for you.

best

Robert

LISC recovered nicely with a strong showing against Wallsend Town today, winnning 1 to 0 on a goal by Martin Musurana assisted by AJ Sikorsky. With a slight change in allignment by Coach Mike Wingo that emphasized central defending, LISC's defense held throughout and the majority of chances were for LISC. John Munson played many good minutes on the right wing. Coming on as a substitute, Sikorsky gave Wallsend troubles as they tried to match his intensity and speed, resulting in a number of chances and some near misses.

For their second game today, LISC will meet Darlington FC, considered the best team in their division. Darlington U16 played just after the LISC Wallsend Town match and English Premiere League scouts were in attendance to watch the Darlington boys play. We will see, shortly, how LISC handles this challenge.

best

Robert

Most of the crew and all of the boys took the Metro Train to St. James' for the Newcastle vs. Deportivo game. After figuring out the automatic ticket machines and finding the proper English coins, we had our tickets and were on our way, with many friednly tips from the locals. We knew we were at the St. James' stop since it's the end of the line and the entire station is painted in the black and white stripes of Newcastle United. First stop was the Newcastle fan shop, where one can buy replica jerseys or golf balls with the team's logo and colors.

The game was not a sellout, but there had to be at least 35,000 in attendance. Our seats were midway up and just in the corner behind the goal. Watching the big boys play was very enjoyable and their talents were obvious. It was quite a treat to see Alan Shearer play, who is going on 34 years I believe and is playing his final year before retirement. For those that don't know, Shearer has scored more goals than anyone ever in the English Premiere league, so getting to see him play is something like getting see a Babe Ruth in action.

There were 3 goals in the game and it was exciting, but Newcastle lost and Deportivo was very skilled. Although not as loud when Newcastle will start league play and the stadium if filled, the atmosphere was something the boys had never seen so large and loud for soccer before and well worth the trip.

best

Robert

Some of the silly shots we took while walking through Edinburgh, which the one street picture will show you is something like one of the oldest college towns in the world.

best

Robert

Erich will be posting more Edinburgh pics, but here's 2 to give you a sense of some of what we saw. The street shot is right in the heart of old town and the Royal Mile that leads up to the castle. The shot in front of the roman-style columns is on the east hill in town that overlooks the sea coast.

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Robert

After the North Shields game the boys ate in town, some eating pizza, but others hitting the fish n chips shops. Here was a place, The Arcade, rightly praised by the locals. Check out those portions. We also had onion rings and pinapple rings in the same style and a bit of curry to throw on the chips if you liked, washed down with hot tea.

best

Robert

The good news first: as we arrived on the playing fields this morning we came alongside an incredible photo opportunity as Newcastle manager Graeme Souness was taking publicity photos for the start of the tournament. We introduced ourselves and got a picture with the ex-Liverpool player and head coach of the major professional team of the area. Next, we began the game with North Shields and in the very first minute Miguel scored. After that, the news is less positive. North Shields equalized on a ball that LISC was unable to clear from the box. LISC played pretty strongly in the first half, combining on passes, getting crosses and chances. The second half began tied 1 to 1, but LISC got a second goal for the lead. After that North Shields began winning more balls and LISC began to tire (too much Edinburgh walking tour, perhaps). North Shields scored their second goal on a perfectly timed run and a 2 on 1 situation at the top of the box. With about 10 minutes left, North Shields scored another messy goal from a free ball in the box.

best

Robert