In the latter part of 2008 Shepway Wanderers disability football club submitted a grant application to the Kent Community Foundation.  They had kindly assisted us with part funding for our first week end away trip to Ipswich and St Albans back in April 2007.  This time we were planning something a little different, so that our players had the opportunity to take part in other sports/social activities, as well as the proverbial football match!

The Kent Community Foundation were very quick to respond, granting us the full £3.5k we required to fund the trip and purchase some new kit and equipment at the same time.  The cheque arrived just before Christmas 2008 and an initial meeting was set up with Shepways newly formed player/staff volunteer group.

Nic Streeter, Dave Pascoe, Peter Everitt and Steve Lake set about arranging a weekend of Scuba diving (try dive) and ten pin bowling in Eastbourne.  To be followed by an overnight stay in a top Brighton hotel, including a night out on the town and a full 11 a-side footy match on astro turf on the return Sunday journey.  Each member of the group took on the responsibility of arranging each section of the trip and had just four weeks to put it all together.  This culminated in a meeting on Jan 21^st that everyone attended, to be given info and to have the chance to put questions to us all.

Dave Pascoe (team captain) – a keen diver himself arranged for a group on 9 of our players to experience a try dive in a swimming pool in Eastbourne under strict supervision from a team of professionals.  Each player had to complete a medical form before the dive to make sure they were fit enough and eligible to take up the challenge.  Dave also arranged the astro pitch with Eastbourne district council for the player/staff match on Sunday Feb 1^st and the coach’s outward bound quiz’s/prizes – enjoyed by all!

Nic Streeter (secretary/coach) – arranged the hotel accommodation for 16 twin rooms at the Holiday Inn, Brighton negotiating a deal to include an evening meal and breakfast for everyone.  A week before our departure we had a call from the hotel saying ‘sorry..but we’ve over booked the hotel by 100 rooms!!’  panic periodically set in until they told us we had basically been upgraded to the ‘Thistle Hotel’ a plush 4 star seafront hotel near the pier and very central to the town centre – Result!

Peter Everitt (volunteer/coach) – arranged the coach itself which was from Ashford mini coaches, a 29 seater Mercedes with DVD in situ and a fab local driver called Steve – many thanks for a wonderful week end Steve!  Peter mad sure the coach knew where to go and every pick up point from Ashford through to Folkestone and along the A259 all the way to our destination and back.  Peter also arranged for 2 man of the match trophies for the game on Sunday and that everyone got a medal as a keep sake for the week end winter tour!

Steve Lake (player/coach) – arranged the ten pin bowling and Laser quest which was situated at a different venue in Eastbourne.  All players, staff and carers that were not diving were involved in a team bowling event, with 3 teams taking part in 3 separate games.  A separate presentation night will be arranged in March/April to present awards for the bowling and the week end as a whole.  Steve was also responsible for the homeward bound coach quiz!

The week end went off exceptionally well and was enjoyed by everyone.  The behaviour of all the players was of a high standard throughout and they represented their club proudly, on and off the pitch.  After a group dinner, a good local night out and a hearty breakfast we set off again on the return journey home.  Arriving at Eastbourne’s DC astro turf, we split everyone into 2 teams for the friendly football match - Shepway wanderers V Shepway Tigers and although the Wanderers led 3 -2 at the break, it was the Tigers that prevailed as winners taking the game with an impressive 7 goals to 5!  Everyone did brilliantly in very difficult conditions as it was windy and cold and we actually finished the game in a near blizzard of snow – we certainly had to drive home in one!

After the game a feast of a cold buffet was laid on for everyone, prepared by volunteers but again supplied by the fund itself.  After match presentations were made with all present being given there Shepway winter tour medals – MOTM for Shepway Wanderers was Jason (H) Williams and for the winning team of the Tigers, for brave and inspirational defending was our very own Tina Walker.

Well done everyone and many many thanks to my dedicated, hard working colleagues Dave, Steve and Peter and of course The Kent Community Foundation for making it all possible – a great and memorable weekend – Fantastic and role on the next one!

Nic Streeter - manager/coach Shepway Wanderers

nic_streeter@hotmail.com
 
Darrell Woodward - manager/coach Ashford

darrell.woodward@kent.gov.uk