Belgium 2007

Easter 2007 saw the Reds travel to Belgium on the clubs European trip for the first time. The trip -which is a selling point for the club- proved to be the highlight of the season and a football filled entertaining weekend was had by parents and players alike and the players returned motivated for the remainder of the season.

The first day of the tournament saw the Reds group kicking off in the afternoon so the team under the caretaker stewardship of George and Jonny had a relaxing morning and some team building exercises before the first game which was a comfortable win against a Dutch side who were technically superior to the reds but could not withstand the physical element of the English game.
The reds had a sterner test in their second and final game of the day against hosts B side KFC Hamont however a 2-0 win with the wining goal coming from an unlikely Andrew Crompton who was ready to collapse with tiredness and jubilation - he got a burger as a reward as an unsuspecing manager said he would buy him one if he scored.
Waldridge returned to the holiday park on a high with the palyers relaxing and George and Jonny plotting a stratergy for the next day.

As Sunday arrived Waldridge had a tough day with 4 games ahead of them however goalkeeper cum striker (on loan from the whites for the weekend) scored a spectacular long range effort, similar to that of Beckhams v Wimbledon, to secure the points for Waldrige in their first game. The Reds ensured that the next game was a formality and that they sat top of the group for the final clash v second place Rotterdam. What happened next was the stuff of fairytales.

As no other Waldridge teams were playing 200 blue clad supporters clung to the touchline in anticipation and the teams took to the field, Waldridge played the traditional hard English way which upset the Dutch from the start. Waldridge took an early lead and dug deep to hang on. Battles were being fought on and off the pitch Liam Errington and Ryan Kelly were outstanding, Andy Crompton letting the Dutch feel all his weight in the challenges.

On the touchline a Dutch woman and an English manager were having a shouting match, Andy Lowes having to calm Jonny down and stop him letting the Linesman know exactly what he thought of him. Belly the bus driver screaming encouragement. Bryan, Rob, Kevin and Paul doing their bit on the side and Joe singing away. 
Cheating referees, diving players and twisting parents did not stop the Reds winning a game extended by the Belgian referee to allow the Dutch in, grit, determination and spirit won the day. This was the Reds cup final.

However it wasnt as group winners the Reds had 50mins rest before competing against the hosts A team in the final. KFC Hamont looked the rested team that they were, waldridge looked completely knackered and they were. The Rotterdam game had done it and by giving their all to get to the final there was nothing left in their heavy legs to win it. The reds lost 1-0. Liam summed it up we would have won it had we had the break.

A despondant team left for the complex and to the team meal. Now 9 months on it is recognisable how well he had done but on Easter Sunday 2007 it was so close yet so far away.