UK Trip Day 4

Travel day today---who are ya????


One of the biggest chants and taunts in the UK is "who are ya??" ....Today was a huge travel day for my boys. We needed to trek to the far north so we left London and made our way to Manchester and Liverpool. We went through Stonehenge saw the amazing stones and went to Bath. Once there we split into two groups. One group went through Bath and the other took the boys to the hotel for some swimming. While in Bath Mikey B went to see a PRO Rugby team and get some auto graphs. While in a huge crowd of attention seekers he found himself in front of the line..then "who are ya??" Mikey told the Pros about our futbol adventure and training with Reading and future training with Everton. So impressed were the Rugby players of the Gunner tour that they cleared the floor of the attention seekers and gave Mikey the floor. How can we have a training session with Reading and how can we have a session with Everton. How?????? Beacause we are the franchise--- the Rose Tree Gunners!!!!! Now everyone in Bath knows the Gunners baby, clear the floor--- Who are ya?????

Tomorrow a training session with Everton Academy...

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UK Trip day 3

Eldon Celtic FC!!!!!!!!!!


Day 3 started with a trip to Reading FC and the Majectic stadium. We were allowed to take a tour of the Majectic including the locker room, the players lounge and the actual field and stadium. After that we trained at their training grounds with one of their academy coaches. What a treat. After our training we made our way to Windsor for a day out and a visit to the castle. We ended our day with Match day 2 vs Eldon Celtic FC a local Reading team that has 5 trophies in the last 3 years, 3 championships and 2 cups. Unlike yesterday this game was pure in UK flavor, very high paced, physical, and skilled fast players. The first 15 minutes belonged to the hosts as they tilted the field without an exit. Down we went 2 love. Thanks to my keeper Liam we gained our compusure and thanks to two awesome stops by him the half would end 2 love but at a huge cost. My General was already injured and due to hard play Alex, Connor, and David went down. Jack Buttimer was battling exhaustion from the first half. All we told the boys was just match their effort as Rose Tree does not quit. From there they took it upon themselves and decided ENOUGH, they will not be bullied. Daly, Cropper, Panzo, David, Big E, double Jack, Brooksy, Hibbs, Sammy and Deano, General, and the Bull became ANIMALS and probably the best half of 35 minutes I have ever seen. The hosts refused to yield and mano a mano both teams went, just pounding each other and taking turns rushing up 110 yards. It was incredible. I don't think anyone wanted the game to end but finally the last whistle 2 love we went down to a roar by the crowd for both teams. Yep the first 15 was theirs but 55 minutes after that we played level. Birthday boy Deano almost provided some fireworks as he beat the keeper but his shot was cleared of the line by a defender. WOW our boys were awesome they were ANIMALS. After the game the Gunners treated #14 to a BDAY suprise on what makes us special. We ended the day discussing on how awesome Eldon is and yet they are not the academy team as the lads play for Eldon because they can't play for Reading FC. What talent they had and what desire and heart we had. OLE

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Just two add ons. Alex Shultzy Shultz was not mentioned in the 2nd half because we held him out due to his knee injury, but he was awesome the first half and Ryan Big Shultzy was missed as this game was made for him. Double injured Schultzy brothers , man we could of used them.


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UK Trip day 2

London belongs to us today. Day 2 in the UK opened up with the Gunners visiting Brentford part of London a nice blue collar section. The complex was in the middle of their big neighborhood and consisted of 10 fields , 8 lockerrooms and 10 coaching parking spots. Yep just like Cherry.. We were given access to their lockerroom for the boys. It was awesome. We played London Lions a div 2 team that had success in the Spring Cups. However they are in midst of Holiday here and they lost some of their players. So they fused and got guest players. The game was played on a 110 by 70 turf field. Yesterday's Tottenham game was a blessing on coaching. We asked them to spread the field, hold their shape and stay patient. The game started and the first 20 was all Gunners. Chance after chance and finally we broke the Lions. Sammy found David and one nill. The last 15 minutes was choppy. And half 1-0. We discussed that we needed to go back to our first 20 minute play. The second half belonged just to the Gunners. Tilted the field and created. Play was beautiful stringing 8 9 passes and finding ways to switch the field of play. Cropper started our second goal with Alex Schultz. They found Hibbs who made a nice cross and found Jack Daly and Bang 2 nil. We decided to give the General a break and play him striker. He was possesed creating chance after chance and finally the goal of the match. Brooooksy started the play by finding Dean wide who turned and sent the General down the flank who crossed to Hibbs and final 3 -0. We celebrated our win with going to Wembley and watching the Community Shield and my beloved United winning 3-1. From there we took the sweatbox aka the Tube to central London for an evening of sight-seeing. Our perfect day ends . Day 3 tomorrow will have a pro training session with Reading FC and an afternoon match for the boys with a local club.


PS for years I thought the lads name was Schultzy but 15 Venezualan girls finally broke the truth. They vouch its Justin Bieber :) :)

OLE

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UK Trip Day 1

Our big UK trip arrived and Friday night the Gunners took over Phi Itln airport. 54 of us wearing Red and Yeloow with the Rose Tree Gunners logo. The airport belonged to us and later that night so did our plane. We even had traveling fans as the Wilmot family joined the affair. 6 hours later we touched down Heathrow and took over London. We had another 10 of our family waiting for us and our 70 plus Gunner group was ready. After a quick hotel stop , off we went to White Hart Lane to watch Totenham vs Fiorentina. What an experience it was. This historic stadium is in the middle of a North London neighborhood. It is so cool to have a stadium in the middle of houses and shops. Most fans walk to the game. The stadium is small and has no bad seats. It provides an intimate environment between fans and players. The Spurs took the game 3-2. The chanting and applause by these sophisticated fans inspired my lads. What a way to finish a long day as we prepare to face off the London Lions tomorrow and then bus off to the Community Shield at Wembley between United and Chelsea. Go Gunners baby.......


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