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Dramatic goals, injuries, good football and plenty of good times - this year's tour had it all. Read the day-by-day accounts and the match reports below.
The bulk of the squad met up in Stansted airport at a far more civilised time than in previous years, and felt the better for it. You could tell from the banter that everyone's hangovers had subsided a little more than usual. Teo raised the tone of the party when he arrived, cigarette in hand and dressed for a business meeting, and promptly began on the first of his many discourses that weekend: politics, the European economy and a detailed comparison of budget airlines were first on his list.
However, all Teo's good work was undone 20 minutes later in the departure lounge, when Jon M decided it was to time we started acting like footballers again. Adopting a gladiatorial stance, he whipped off his fleece to reveal a Bruce Willis vest and a pumped-up physique. This so disturbed the airline staff that they changed the departure gate several times as they hurriedly revised their security arrangements in order to "control the little guy". Jon was just warming up.
The flight to Milan went like clockwork, and within no time the squad were back once again in the Hotel Bolzano, talking to the young clerk about British football and the charms of the females. Danny and Jason had arrived earlier, and so had had even more time to be re-introduced to this Bolzano culture: strangely, they looked somewhat relieved when the rest of the team turned up.
Once changed and unpacked, the team met up in the usual bar on the corner for some coffee and ham&cheese sandwiches before the rain started to come down, signalling that it was time to get on the bus and head off for the first match of the tour: Gibson vs CPR, at the Negrelli Stadium.
CPR's pre-match plans were disrupted by Samy's illness and the very unfortunate back injury suffered by Danny during the warm-up. The big centre-back even tried to go in goals for a while (most of the team thought that he and John just liked swapping outfits), but had to bow out in the end. Thus, it was a somewhat unconventional 10-man CPR line-up (4-4-1): John, Tyler, Ken C, Samy, Paul, Jon M, Garry, Andy, Teo, Jason. However, Gibson had the good grace to play with 10 men also, and so the match promised to be fairly even.
After the national anthems introduced last year, the squad wondered what Gibson could do to top that this year. But top it they did. To a swirl of something quite like ticker-tape the teams ran out to the Champions League music, and as they lined up on the centre-line for the anthems both sides could make out the Anglo-Italian Cup glinting on the sidelines through the swarms of mosquitoes.
The match started with plenty of good football from both sides, with CPR controlling the ball and passing the ball around well, and Gibson looking menacing on the break. Samy was using all his experience to intercept the Gibson attacks, and at the other Gerets was doing the same for Gibson.
The teams were deadlocked until midway through the first half, when Gibson won a corner down the right flank. When the well-flighted corner came in one of their players had found some space in the penalty box and nodded home unchallenged. CPR came back at the,, but the score remained 1-0 at halftime.
CPR remained confident that they could get back into the match, and they kept playing some good passing football into the second half. The only lapses in concentration came whenever there was a cry of "Dink it !" or "Acres !" from the right-back spot.
After 65 mins CPR got the breakthrough that their play had deserved when Andy won a free-kick down the left wing. With Paul lining up to swing in the free-kick Danny hobbled down the touchline to pass on some tactical know-how, advising Paul to put it on Jason's head. So Paul decided to do just that: a sweet outswinging cross was met by Jason coming in and the ball fairly bulleted into the back of the net. 1-1 and game one.
Both sides then had good chances to score, with Andy and Jason coming close for CPR and John making a good save from a 1 vs 1.
However, for all the good play neither side could add to their goal tally, and the game finished 1-1. The Cup would go down to penalties. John almost stopped the first one, but from there on in CPR were in trouble, as the Gibson keeper managed to stop efforts from both Samy and Jason. Andy rattled in the third, but by then Gibson were in the clear, and they put home the fourth to take the inaugural Anglo-Italian trophy.
After the game CPR enjoyed the gracious hospitality of our hosts, joining them in the clubhouse to partake of some wine, food and conversation. Paul Dawson at last was able to get a beer down on his birthday, and the look of relief on his face was palpable. The groundsman of the Negrelli made our night by presenting us with a penant from the stadium, which would have pride of place in our clubhouse if only we had one. The team was really made to feel most welcome by Gibson and the Negrelli staff, and we must thank them for the great efforts that they go to each year to make this game special.
There was no stopping the CPR lads in full flow, and when the lights went out at the Negrelli we headed on to Bar Magenta for more beer and sarnies. Unfortunately the seating arrangements were such that Paul ended up opposite Tyler, and so the gentle post-match banter soon ended up in a vehement debate on the merits of the Dink. No-one could avoid being drawn in to the polemic as first Paul and then Tyler defended their case: no-one, that is, except Jon M, who fell asleep on the table after a few sips of beer and a bite of his vegetarian ham sandwich. The night ended with no clear winner to the debate, and no-one felt completely satisfied with the slightly 'New Labour' decision to try out the Dink over a short test period before making a final decision on its adoption.
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