Last week Tenby Football Club's Under 14s embarked on a tour to France. The party comprised 16 players and six adults, including manager Charles Davies and coach Remi Page who between them had arranged the trip.
Following a 16-hour coach and ferry journey, the group arrived at Disneyland Resort, Paris, on Thursday evening, where they stayed at the Cheyenne Hotel.
After spending a very enjoyable day in the Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios, the lads played their first match on Friday evening against local side Saint Thibault des Vignes (of the Vines). The historic town of St. Thibault is west of the French capital and is a little larger than Tenby. It has an 11th Century Priory and Church of a similar age which was built by the Champagne counts.
On Saturday morning, another few hours were spent in Euro Disney before travelling to Creteil, a suburb of south-east Paris close to Orly airport. Part of the famous Sorbonne University is situated in Creteil, but this fact was of no interest to most of the Tenby contingent. By late afternoon, the overnight return journey had commenced and the coach arrived home at around 6 am on Sunday.
St. Thibault 15 ans 1 Tenby AFC Under 14s 2
St. Thibault run two teams in the Seine et Marne Nord 15 ans Ligue. The firsts are currently third in the top division, while the reserves are heading the second division.
In France, age group soccer is based on the year in which the boys were born. The home team were all born in 1991, while Tenby's side were all under 14 on August 1, 2005. Thus, St. Thibault were an average of about seven months or so older and some of their side were very big and strong.
The game was played under floodlights on a clay pitch. Ross Gray came close to opening the scoring early on, but it was St. Thibault who dominated most of the first half. Eric Cyprien, Romain Tereso and Benjamin Poncin all narrowly failed to score and Luke Hamilton made a couple of excellent saves for the visitors.
With half-time approaching, Tenby went ahead somewhat against the run of play. Gray showed pace and skill before crossing to Callum Proctor who finished with composure.
However, the lead was short-lived as a speculative shot by St. Thibault's substitute Kevin Bantanong was cruelly deflected off Lewis Davies, leaving Hamilton with no chance.
The French began the second period strongly and Eduan Tihene almost scored twice. With their backs against the wall, Tenby showed great resilience and character. It appeared that the home team were perhaps not used to the strong tackling by the visitors and in the latter stages the match became rather niggly.
Tenby brought on Rex Yaehall, who immediately showed his power and class. The young Pembrokeshire lads had two penalty appeals denied following apparent fouls on Gray and Daryl Mansbridge. Yaehall was adjudged to have infringed as his header put Tom Nicholas clear and Mansbridge was unfortunate to slip while speeding for goal.
It was a sweet unstoppable left-footer by Yaehall which deservedly regained the lead for Tenby with 15 minutes remaining. The visitors then had to withstand immense pressure and moved Hamilton to bolster the midfield. His replacement in goal, Lewis Hodgson, pulled off a magnificent point- blank save from Sofiani Benouda which arguably won the game for Tenby.
Towards the end, Sam Ormond put Gray clear, but his shot skimmed the outside of the post. In the dying seconds, St. Thibult won a corner on the right-hand side, from which the lively Bruno Ravi hit the crossbar with his header, hence allowing Tenby a memorable victory.
Tenby received a very warm welcome at St. Thibault. After the match, cakes and drinks were provided, including Champagne for the adults. The visitors were given souvenirs. Officials exchanged speeches, but although Remi spoke beautifully on behalf of Tenby, none of his group could understand what he was saying as it was in French!
St. Thibault: Gaetan Le Thuout, Joris Bodez, Jimmy Philippe, Nicholas Penel, Yannis Rabhi, Axel Desjardins, Bruno Ravi, Eric Cyprien, Judan Nuerba, Benjamin Poncin, Tereso Romain. Subs - Euduan Tihene, Sofiani Benouda, Kevin Bautanong.
Tenby: Luke Hamilton, Alex Lewis, Lloyd Thomas, Joe Richards, Sam Ormond, Billy Davies, Callum Proctor, Tom Baker, Daryl Mansbridge, Mark Dwyer, Ross Gray. Subs - Tom Powell, Lewis Davies, Rex Yaehall, Tom Nicholas, Lewis Hodgson.
US Creteil 15 ans 9 Tenby AFC Under 14s 1
Creteil's firsts play in the French Second Division, but their 1991 side are currently top of the Academy Ligue. Thus, with the possible exception of Paris St. Germain, Tenby played the best team of 15-year-olds in France at present.
The game was played on a beautiful large Astroturf pitch and from the kick-off Creteil showed why they are riding so high. It was immediately obvious that all their players had wonderful control and were extremely confident on the ball.
On the other hand, Tenby started as if they were still on Space Mountain and were three down inside 10 minutes. Breure opened Creteil's account after fine play by Manga on the right side. Manga himself scored from a Djoudi cross and then Breure claimed the third, with Hamilton stranded.
Gray pulled one back for Tenby, but this proved to be the tourists' only goal. Manga headed wide, before showing speed while securing his brace. He then completed his hat-trick with a scorching volley made possible by Breure.
Creteil's outstanding skipper, Diakite, a very talented two-footed midfielder, caused havoc in the visitors' ranks and it was his shot which ricocheted off the unlucky Joe Richards to make the half-time score 6-1.
The Academy Ligue leaders commenced the second half in a similar fashion. Djouadi, Lagui, Tumba, Scimani and Breure were all close to increasing the lead and Hamilton made a few fine stops. In fact, the Tenby 'keeper never looked worried by a long range shot.
Inevitably, the seventh goal arrived and it was by way of Muanza. Further near misses by Moulond and Lagui followed, but the next score was perhaps the best of all. Scimani amazingly beat Nicholas and Baker on the left side, allowing Lagui an easy tap- in.
Tenby eventually took play up close to the home penalty area, but Baker's speculative shot was easily covered. Hamilton made a couple more excellent saves, prior to Manga rounding him to slot in Creteil's final goal from a very narrow angle after clever work from Lagui.
Charles and Remi would be the first to admit that their boys were comprehensively beaten. However, although the Tenby team had played just 20 hours previously and had had little sleep over the previous three days, it was an experience they will never forget.
Creteil were a truly wonderful side and were a pleasure to watch. Their touches were immaculate and they stroked the ball with consummate ease and accuracy all over the park. The pace of their players, especially in the final third of the pitch, was something Tenby had not witnessed before.
Most of the Creteil team have the potential to make the grade in French club if not international football. In addition to the very impressive Diakite, Manga, Breure and Lagui, others to look out for in the future include central defenders Mouloud and Alcibiade. Remember those names.
US Creteil: Molinier, Fofana, Caracostea, Gatineau, Scimani, Manga, Diakiti, Moulond, Breure, Alcibiade, Djouadi. Subs Lagui, Muanza, Tumba. Tenby: Hamilton, Davies, Thomas, Richards, Powell, Yaehall, Proctor, Nicholas, Baker, Mansbridge, Gray. Subs Davies, Ormond.
The whole of the Tenby squad deserve credit for the manner in which they played in two very tough games against older boys. The win at St. Thibault was a fine achievement. The visitors never expected to run Creteil close, but they all enjoyed the game and appreciated the quality of their opponents.
Special praise is due to Proctor, who had a great battle with St Thibault's Desjardins and never stopped running against Creteil, nor from the driver off whom he borrowed the hotel bin truck. Thomas was a rock in defence in both games and, as expected, he caused problems throughout the trip.
Baker worked hard and is probably the most improved player at present, while Mansbridge and Hodgson are the most forgetful. Nicholas may be the worst actor that Walt Disney Studios has ever seen!
All the players are very grateful to Charles and Remi for organising the tour, but realise that they now return to concentrate on the Pembrokeshire and West Wales competitions.
The management wish to thank the many valuable sponsors, including Bourne Leisure, Haven Colourprint UK, Pembrokeshire Financial Services, Bartlett Engineering Co., Boot of Lydstep Ltd, NFU Mutual, Eurofast, Cotts Farm Equine Clinic Ltd, Stan's Agricultural Services, Speedy Power Tool Hire, Main Port Engineering (1990) Ltd, W. F. Wades, Skelfayre, All White Now, Upton Farm Frozen Foods, Victoria Bakery, Amec Group Ltd, James Dwyer Associates, Top Pops Ltd, Folly Farm, Heywoods Butchers, N. D. Toy and Partners, Tenby and Narberth Tyres, Londis - Pembroke and Heatherton. In addition, the squad is thankful to Lee and Hayley for the quiz they arranged and to all persons who sponsored the youngsters at the Boxing Day Swim.