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U14 GIRLS - ENGLAND 2011
(Issue 1)
April 15, 2011
 We
are at the JFK Airport in NY. We arrived at the airport by a
bus limo - (see the cool party bus to the right). The bus
ride was very crazy and everyone ate a LOT of food!!! It was
amazing!!! Almost time to go on the airplane!!! :). We are
looking forward to getting an accent!! Like Austin Powers.
Yeah baby! However tomorrow we are going to go in the
Windsor Castle. I wonder if the queen will be home?!
Hopefully our jetlag won't be killing us. Wish us luck!
Amanda :)
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U14 GIRLS - ENGLAND 2011
(Issue 2)
April 17, 2011
Ok. It's been two days since we last blogged.
The plane ride was ok. We watched some movies, Due Date,
Glee, & CSI. Most of us did not get much sleep, except for
Emily Wright who slept the whole time.
When we arrived at Heathrow we got our bags and had to go
through customs. Then we got on a big red bus and went to
Windsor. We explored Windsor Castle and we loved to learn
about it's history. The Royal guards looked really funny in
their uniforms and we took some pictures with them. We
walked by the gardens and they were amazing, there were
bright green trees and flowers, they were absolutely
gorgeous.
After the Castle we drove two hours to our hotel. We all
slept.
This morning we had breakfast at the hotel and then we went
to Bath and the temple. Bath is a historic Roman town. Then
us girls went around shopping at the boutiques.
Back to the hotel we had lunch and were prepping for our
first game in Bristol. Everyone was just chilling out until
we finally were at the field. Our game was running a little
late, so we were watching the u18 cup game. Southside won.
It was a very different experience for all of us. We had our
own locker rooms and of course the music was blasting.
Everyone was excited to play our first game in England,
against Brislington FC U16. They just won their league
championship. At half time we were losing 2-1 and the game
was really close. Unfortunately we gave up a few goals in
the second half and lost 5-1. Doesn't sound great but we
actually played ok. Ali Hannon was named player of the game
and made a one sentence speech. After the game we were
invited back to the team clubhouse for a post game meal with
the other team. From our new friends we learned that fries
are called chips and chips are called crisps, bangs are
called fringe, cigarette are called fags, highways are
called motorways, soccer field is called the pitch, and
sneakers are called trainers. We thought that their accents
were cool and they loved our "American accent". When we got
back to the hotel and had friend requests from lots of the
girls on Facebook.
Thanks Leigha, Sophie and Georgia.
Time to go to bed. Big day tomorrow.
Brittany, Lindsay, Taylor P, Brenna and Mick.
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U14 GIRLS - ENGLAND 2011
(Issue 3)
April 18, 2011
This entry was submitted through the SoccerPlus
facebook page (Follow SoccerPlus on
facebook) by Kieran Wisenman from England...
Kieran 'Kez' Wiseman posted on SoccerPlus's Wall.
Kieran wrote:
"Me and a few friends played a great game of football
against the U14G Breakers today on their England tour as
they stopped by in Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire! We
were in the park having a kick around, and the girls came up
and asked to play! It was a good match and was cool playing
against a proper team. (There was only 5 of us!)"
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U14 GIRLS - ENGLAND 2011
(Issue 4)
April 18, 2011
Photos from Monday:
^ Above: the
SoccerPlus U14 Breakers take a team picture inside Old
Trafford, Home to Manchester United
^ Above: Taylor,
Anna and Brittany sitting in the Manchester United dressing
room
^ Above: "Legends
of Man United" - George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton
^ Above: Jason
Grubb, SoccerPlus Goalkeeper Staff visits the team (pictured
here with Goalkeeper Julia) for their match at Brislington.
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U14 GIRLS - ENGLAND 2011
(Issue 5)
April 18, 2011
Yesterday morning we went to Cotswold. When we
were there Amanda and Shelbie went up to some guys playing
soccer and asked to play.
We stopped in a village called Bourton on the water. After
that we sat on the bus for 3 hours, passing King Charles
farm seeing the beautiful scenery. We stopped at the rest
stop on the motorway, and continued our journey to the
Manchester United stadium. We walked to the entrance, and
passed through the museum waiting for our group to get
called for our tour. Around 3:30 we got called in, and began
our tour.
Our tour guide showed us the whole stadium, and the locker
rooms, they smelt VERY bad. Then, as we were walking down
towards the pitch through the tunnel, the tour guide played
the cheering tape as if we were professionals right before
the match. We got to shop in the store for a while.
Mick promised us that we would get to see a real stadium
when we go to London to visit Arsenal. Outside the stadium
all 18 players went in one taxi cab and we all fit! We did!
After that we went and checked into our new hotel in Leigh,
and had a team dinner at the hotel.
--
Ben Wright
(Father of Emily)
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U14 GIRLS - ENGLAND 2011
(Issue 6)
April 19, 2011
Photos from Tuesday:
^ Above: Brooke
finds some Connecticut food
^ Above: Mom's go
hat shopping for the Royal Wedding
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U14 GIRLS - ENGLAND 2011
(Issue 7)
April 19, 2011
More
Photos from Tuesday:
^ Above: Tuesday
Morning training session at Leigh Athletic Club
^ Above:
Pregame vs. Curzon Athletic. SoccerPlus won 9-0, with 7
different goal scorers.
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U14 GIRLS - ENGLAND 2011
(Issue 8)
April 20, 2011
Photos from Wednesday:
^ Above: Pregame
at Stamford Bridge to see Chelsea vs Birmingham
^ Above: Two
SoccerPlus Goalkeeper "Legends" - Peter Bonetti who worked
SoccerPlus Goalkeeper School for years and Emily, current
Goalkeeper U14G
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U14 GIRLS - ENGLAND 2011
(Issue 9)
April 20, 2011
More photos from Wednesday:
^ Above: The team
visited Warwick Castle on Wednesday. Here they are going up
the stairs leading to the tower.
^ Above: Meeting
the King
^ Above: Mick and
Louis in the Stocks
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U14 GIRLS - ENGLAND 2011
(Issue 10)
April 18
Game overview-We pulled into a beautiful 5 pitch club to
face our opponents, the U14 Curzons. From the start they
looked a tad smaller than us. Most of their players were
ages 12 and 13 with a couple 11 and 14 year olds. They put
up a good fight although we won 9-0. With ten minutes in
Britt scored a top left goal from 25 yards out.
Following goal scorers include, Katie, Rachel (2),Emilee K,
Kelly, Amanda, and Alex (2).
--Taylor Walker and Emily Wright
April 20
Yesterday, we had a long drive from Leigh to Warwick Castle
for two and a half hours. We explored the courtyard grounds
and grabbed some food. As we were eating, some French kids
seemed very intrigued to talk to us. After, a group of girls
explored the small village and got some ice cream. We got
back on the bus for another two and a half hours all the way
to London. Driving through the streets, it seemed like an up
classed New York, but really pretty. Our hotel is in a prime
spot across from this really big park. Some of us went to go
play a mini pick up game of soccer (futbol). We had a quick
mid afternoon dinner then off to the Chelsea vs. Birmingham
match. We were rooting for the Chelsea team, but
unfortunately our seats were in the Birmingham side. We were
not allowed to root for Chelsea, or else we would be
escorted out of the stadium. From the first three minutes,
when Chelsea scored, the fans went crazy. Every time there
was a corner kick, or a goal scored, the security guards had
to stand up to make sure nothing terribly bad would happen.
In the second half, Birmingham received a penalty kick in
our end which completed the score of 3-1 Chelsea. We had a
fun bus ride home, with Brooke and Emily singing London
inspired tunes. The day was really fun.
--Taylor and Emily
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U14 GIRLS - ENGLAND 2011
(Issue 11)
April 21
^ Above:
SoccerPlus vs the Denham Ladies
^ Above: The team
takes a tour of the HSBC bank in London. it's the second
tallest building in London.
^ Above: Some of
the girls pose inside the HSBC building in front of the
historical photograph collection.
^ Above: The non
playing members of the group soak up the sun outside the
HSBC building
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U14 GIRLS - ENGLAND 2011
(Issue 12)
April 22
^ Above:
The team take a ride on the London Underground to visit
Arsenal.
^ Above: Louis &
Katie sit in the Captain's seat in the Arsenal changing
room.
^ Above: The team
at Arsenal
^ Above: Sitting
on the Arsenal Bench
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U14 GIRLS - ENGLAND 2011
(Issue 13)
April 22
^ Above: Players
pose for a photo with the QPR players after tonight's game.
SoccerPlus won 2-1 with goals from Brittany and Emily
Wilcox.
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U14 GIRLS - ENGLAND 2011
(Issue 14)
April 22
Yesterday, we woke up and started sight seeing in the bus on
the way to HSBC (Hong Kong Shanghai Bank Coorporation) We
got an exclusive tour of the bank and learned about it's
history. We traveled high up, in the lifts. We got to go
into the conference room, and look out the window. It was a
beautiful sight, and we got to overlook all of London and
it's pretty scenery. After our tour, we headed to the London
Eye which was a large Ferris wheel that gave you a bird's
eye view of London. Unfortunately we did not have enough
time to ride the eye but we may go back on Saturday. With
the time that we did have, we got to walk around and explore
what the city of London had to offer. There were big crowds
so we all had to stay close together. After our adventure we
took our bus back to the hotel and had to get ready for our
game quickly. After we were all dressed in our gear, we got
back onto the bus and drove to our game. We played a team
called Denham United. We worked as a team and improved on
our game. The score showed when we came out with a win, with
a score of 4-0. When we got back to the hotel we all went
out to eat and were all in bed by 11, looking forward to the
exciting day ahead of us.
-Emilee Kemnitz
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U14 GIRLS - ENGLAND 2011
(Issue 15)
April 23
^ Above: Posing
with the guards at Chelsea
^ Above: The view
from our seats at Chelsea vs West Ham
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U14 GIRLS - ENGLAND 2011
(Issue 16)
Saturday April 23
Saturday morning was the beginning of our free day. We all
agreed to meet back at the hotel to depart for the
Chelsea/West Ham game at 4 pm. The rest of the day was free
to do whatever you wanted. Most people got in some more
shopping in Bond Street and Oxford Circus. Others rented
bicycles and rode around the city. Some people backtracked
to places where we had already been to spend some more time
there.
Our hotel is right across the street from Hyde Park and some
people took a walk there. The Moms wanted to see where
Princess Diana lived and you could walk there from the hotel
too.
At 4pm we set off on the bus for Stamford Bridge. Once again
our tickets were with the away fans. It was very different
to the Birmingham game. This time the stadium was packed and
the West Ham fans were really into the game.
Almost immediately they began singing "I'm forever blowing
bubbles" but they sang some other songs that we can't repeat
here. Right before the game it started raining. Incredibly
it was the first rain we had seen the whole trip. Everyone
here has been amazed how warm it has been. The last few days
have been in the high 70's. We heard loud thunder bangs
during the game and puddles started to form on the field but
the game went on. It was very exciting and both teams had
plenty of chances. Frank Lampard scored the first goal for
Chelsea. He used to play for West Ham. The crowd was not
happy. West Ham missed a bunch of chances to equalize before
Fernando Torres scored his first ever Chelsea goal. This was
a big deal because Chelsea bought him from Liverpool in
January for 50 million pounds and he hadn't scored in 14
games. After the game about half of the group went back into
Picadilly and others went back to the hotel to pack.
Easter Sunday April 24th
This morning the team met for breakfast at 8am and held a
quick meeting to close out our trip. We had some gifts for
Mike, our tour guide and Robin our bus driver. They both
have gone out of their way to make make this trip memorable.
We left the Ramada at 9 am for Heathrow Airport. We said
goodbye to Mike and his family and Robin with promises that
if we were ever in Wales we would visit.
The flight from London to New York was almost 8 hours. When
we got to New York we were picked up by Premier Limo and
finished our trip off with a two hour bus ride home. We were
met by our families in Glastonbury who had made "Welcome
Home" signs and red and black balloons. It was a wonderful
way to end a trip of a lifetime.
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