Gothia Cup

Tonbridge is participating in the Gothia Cup this summer for the seventh consecutive year. The tournament takes place in Gothenburg, Sweden between 17 and 23 July, with over 5,000 teams from over 80 different countries taking part. This year Tonbridge, playing in the Under 16 category, will meet opposition from Sweden and Norway during the group stage. Full details of the draw can be found on the tournament website.   Daily updates will be posted here throughout the tournament.

DAY 5 (22nd July)

Tonbridge are out of Gothia 2011 after falling to defeat against Casablanca FC at TuveVallen on Thursday evening. The Moroccan outfit,who just like Kuddby IF had finsihed third in their group on goal difference and were yet to lose a match, provided a different test for the Tonbridge boys following our diet of Scandanavian opposition to date. On a large pitch, Tonbridge started brightly, with Leek providing excellent width to an attacking line up. Early chances fell for Tonbridge but neither Atkin nor Curtis were able to provide the finishing touches required. From one such attack, a quick counter attack by the Moroccans showed why they were a force to be reckoned with when their tricky winger ran half the length of the pitch before whipping in a cross which was converted at the back post by a stunning header from one yard.

Black and Mitchell, aided by half time substitutes, Holder and Barnes rallied the troops as Tonbridge fought tooth and nail to get back into the second half. Apart from sporadic counter attacks by Casablanca, Tonbridge continued to dominate territory with Barnes, Atkin and Eliet all unlucky with their efforts. The Moroccans became increasingly frustrated and matters threatened to boil over when Leek was challenged illegally and the opposition coach invaded the pitch to slap his own miscreant winger who was subsequently dismissed by the referee.  It was not going to be a case of play it again Sam, but it certainly was a case of " you must remember this" as Tonbridge exited with their heads held high. Full Time 1`0.

The boys are now enjoying watching the Brazilians Cruzeiro on the Heden in the U18 competition before preparing for the traditional Gothia tour debrief at the Hard Rock cafe where excitement is rife over Coach Leale s award of player of the tournament. THis has been a great learning experience for the boys, who have faced one of the most difficult groups in the competition ( Sprint Levoy whom we drew with 1 1, defeated Charterhouse 6 1 in the B play off...) and there is no doubt that Tonbridge football will be stronger for having played in such a great global tournament.

Thanks to all for their supportive comments to the team and we look forward to seeing you tomorrow at Stansted. 

DAY 4 ( 21st July)

Tonbridge continued their tour of the Gothenburg suburbs with their trip to Slattesdam, training ground of BK Hacken as they faced the might of Kuddby IF of Norway. Resting creative talents of Holder, Barnes and Atkin, Coach Leale adopted a muscular approach to the match with powerhouse Eliet partnering Withers in a Park House heavy central strike force. Tonbridge dominated the game, with chance after chance being spurned. Curtis and Leek provided width and penetrative guile down the flanks but it was the Norwegians who broke the deadlock when with customary largesse Tonbridge conceded a free kick on the edge of the area which was despatched venomously into our top corner. Insulted by the injustice of the scoreline, Tonbridge replied rapidly when the rampaging Eliet latched onto Llewellyn Lloyd s throughball to finish neatly in the bottom corner.

Atkin replaced Withers at half time and had an immediate effect when linking well with Eliet to put Tonbridge ahead in the early minutes of the second half. The addition of Holder and Barnes provided further ammunition for the front men and chances continued to fall for Mitchell, Black and Barnes. Just when Coach Carpenter was considering placing a bet on the odds of Tonbridge winning the whole competition, we allowed the diminutive no 10 of Kuddby to soar and head home to level the scores.  To the lads credit we knuckled down, continued to play our stylish pacy game and were rewarded when a Pattenden long throw hit Black on the nose to put us back in front. The bloodied Black left the pitch for treatment but Tonbridge held firm and progressed to the final 16 for the second year in succession.

All eyes now turn to the outlying pitches of Tuvevallen as we face either Moroccan or Finnish opposition at 7pm local time as Tonbridge aim to go into the unchartered territory of Friday football at Gothia cup.

DAY 3 (20th July)

Late night update :

The coaches are greatly relieved to discover that someone is reading this blog and are grateful for the many messages received this evening.

In answer to your questions....

• Mr and Mrs Holder : Alex apologises for the penalty miss and accepts that he should now walk home from Stansted Airport. He'll see you in August.
• Mrs Pattenden : Sorry that Ben is yet to contact you since leaving the UK. You are right that he has spent all his credit on texting American girls.
• Mr Barnes : We agree - the coaches are first class.
• Mr and Mrs Withers : Sorry but we are not willing to give any further details of how 'Tonbridge politely explained the rules of the game'.

Tomorrow's match is now confirmed for 12.20 pm against another Swedish team, with the possibility of Moroccan opponents at 7 pm if we are still going!

Day 3 : Main Report

It has been an emotional day at the Gothia Cup. Drama, despair and ultimately delight was experienced by all connected with Tonbridge out here in Sweden.

Hero of the hour is Tonbridge keeper Ben Pryor who saved three Norwegian penalties in a topsy turvey penalty shoot out, before slamming home a penalty of his own to see Tonbridge through to the last 32. The match itself had ended in high drama as first Norway were awarded a controversial penalty with minutes to go and then deep in stoppage time, Tonbridge won a penalty of their own. Toby Black slotted it, only to be told that it might not count owing to the intervention of a confused touchline referee's assessor. Luckily Tonbridge kept their cool and explained politely the rules of the game. The goal stood and a penalty shoot out was upon us. No strangers to this scenario Coaches Leale and Bleakley allowed the captain to select his men. Adam missed, Pryor saved, Leek scored, Norway scored, Black scored, Norway scored, Atkin scored, Pryor saved, Holder to win it.....missed. Norway scored, Barnes scored, Norway scored, Mitchell missed, Norway to win it.......Pryor saved, Eliet scored, Norway scored, Pattenden scored, Norway scored, Pryor scored, Norway Goalkeeper missed and Tonbridge progressed. In the word of Mrs Adam, our löyal supporter "I have never seen boys so excited about drawing".

So we are still in it and looking forward to tomorrow lunchtime's match. 

If you are reading this blog then please send comments to ajl@tonbridge-school.org.  

DAY 2 (19th July)

A pulsating game at the Kungsbacka fields of dreams saw Tonbridge stay in the hunt for second place in this tough group. Tonbridge started sleepily against Sprint Jeloy and conceded early on when their centre forward capitalised on a defensive hesitation to slot home neatly past an unamused Pryor. However the boys in yellöw responded promptly when  in the move of the match, Holder decided to shimmy his way past five joyless Jeloyan lunges before being upended cynically outside of the box. Happily the ref, the good friend of the coaching staff, pointed to the spot and Holder brushed himself down and sent the keeper the wrong way to level the scores. From then it was one way traffic as Black, Llewellyn LLoyd and Mitchell bossed the midfield. Up front Withers was tireless in his search for the ball and was linking well with Barnes but the second goal was not forthcoming.

After the interval Tonbridge continued to dominate with Atkin, Curtis and Black all having opportunities to score but a combination of marshy ground, bobbles and last ditch defending denied Tonbridge the breakthrough they so richly deserved. FULL TIME 1-1.

Tonbridge returned to the Towers, tired but upbeat and looking forward to not only the two big matches tomorrow but to the opening of Club Gothia tonight. Outfits are being selected, chat up lines rehearsed as the boys prepare for some well deserved r'n'r. If they perform as well as they did in the crowd at last night's opening extravaganza they are sure to come home happy.    

DAY 1 (18th July)

Spirits are high in Gothia Towers despite a 2 - 0 defeat in the opening match of this year's tournament at the hands of IF Elfsborg, who last year despatched Santos Laguna of Mexico in the B15 final and whose teams have won the competition at 4 levels in the last three years. Tonbridge were delighted to return to Kungsbacka, scene of many great previous performances, with it's usual opportunity for subterranean platform football led by coaches Carpenter and Bleakley who kept the ball off the ground for a full 7 seconds before returning to a nearby bench for a short nap. Fully psyched Tonbridge took to the pitch with red bibs covering their already much admired yellow jerseys and their football was admired too by the two away fans amongst the large partisan Swedish ensemble. With Tonbridge battling hard in midfield through Mitchell and Black and occasionally threatening down the flanks with Curtis and hockey refugee Barnes the game was tight. Elfsborg's pretty football made little impact beyond the two occasions on which Pryor made excellent saves. 0 - 0 at half time. The hard working Eliet was replaced by Withers at half time whilst Curtis' calf strain led to the introduction of the poised Holder. The back four of Pattenden, Buchanan, Adam and Leek held firm for a further 15 minutes before the deadlock was broken. Despite falling behind Tonbridge stuck to their guns and nearly equalised twice (despite instructions not to try entering the opposition half) when first Black found room 30 yards out and then Mitchell was upended in the penalty area when combining with Llewelyn-Lloyd. Elfsborg scored a second late on but Tonbridge came off with heads held high.

The Tonbridge players are now relaxing back at the Towers ahead of tonight's opening ceremony where we look forward to Mexican waves, Mexicans and the usual Abba singalong.