| Veterans XI | sponsored by |
EUROPEAN UNION European Social Fund |
Results and Match Reports - Season 2006/2007
December 2006
Out Of Africa
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With a smart new sponsored kit, the Wasps old strip has now re-surfaced in West Africa and is now in the proud ownership of the Gamstar Giants FC in Gambia.
Based in the Bakoteh District, a poverty stricken area of Serrakunda, the team play in the Serrakunda District League winning their league last season and only missing out on a unique cup double when narrowly beaten in their area cup final. The players train 3 times a week in conditions that would make Coronation Park look like the new Wembley, so it is a credit to the management team and the players themselves that they have managed to achieve so much with such limited resources.
Not surprisingly all the boys are avid followers
of the Premiership, predominately supporting Liverpool, Chelsea and Man
Utd. Matches are broadcast on the South African Sports Channel "Super
6" and viewed in an illegal video shop for a very small fee. Typically
these shops hold up to 200 people, and are full to the rafters for the
big games.
Steve Russell at Wirral Council was responsible for setting up this opportunity
at the beginning of December. As a regular visitor to Gambia, Steve had
forged a lasting friendship with Gamstar's coaches, Omar and Mams and
had always been struck by the level of enthusiasm and commitment shown,
despite the austere conditions and prevailing quality of life in the country
in general.
To use a footballing cliché, Steve added
that the club were "over the moon with the generosity of the gift
from the West Kirby Wasps" and on a personal level added that he
"would like to thank the management of West Kirby Wasps Vets for
allowing him to bring a little pleasure to the boys of the Gamstar Giants
FC".
Gamstar Giants proudly show off their new strip above.
October 2006
Wasps Hungary for Success Despite 4-1 Reversal
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Saturday 14 October 2006 will long be remembered as a momentous occasion for the Vets when they became the first Wasps team to play a competitive game in Hungary or Eastern Europe for that matter. Istenhegy FC from Budapest having the distinction of playing hosts to the "Orangemen on this occasion.
Preparations for the game had been two years in the making, following a friendship that was forged between Wasp's Neil Mitchell and Marton Szokai, when the two were working in Budapest together for their respective Governments on the EC's Structural Funds Programme, prior to Hungary's formal admission into European Union in April 2004.
In terms of the game itself, the Wasps meticulous preparations were severely hampered with 5 members of the squad only arriving in the capital two hours before kick off. This, following an unscheduled overnight stop in Zurich, the players having missed their connecting flight due to earlier technical difficulties.
Against a far younger team the Wasps were by no means overawed in the first half and were rather unlucky to go in 2-0 down at the interval. In the second half the superior fitness levels of their Hungarian opponents showed with the hosts adding a further two goals before Bren Tittle grabbed a late but well deserved consolation goal to eradicate the memory of his role in the "howler" that had brought Istenhegy their fortuitous second goal.
However with a 2nd leg and return fixture hopefully planned for some time in 2007, Bren's "away" goal could prove crucial in the event that the Wasps can overturn a three goal deficit and bring the scores level on aggregate !!!
The pictures above show both teams lining up prior to kick off.
September 2006
Tangerine Dreamers
The Vets began their fifth season together with a new kit, as a result of an exciting sponsorship deal with the Two Mills Honda car dealership in Ledsham - www.two-mills.co.uk .This unique partnership was brokered by Bren Tittle, Sales Executive at Two Mills and a current member of the Vets playing squad.
With over 30 years of experience, as the dominant Honda force throughout Cheshire, Wirral and North Wales, the Vets were only too delighted to make this their first serious "signing" of the season.
The picture above shows some of the squad lining
up for the cameras resplendent in their new kit - Bren is on the front
row third from the right.