Old Boltonian's AFC - Bolton School

As already mentioned as this day dawned, fired and a tense excitement filled the air. Not only was this the day of the second acclimatisation walk, not only is the day of the Riding recovery it is also the day of an international football match at Mwenzi Tarn International Stadium.

After the usual morning routine and we are off, this time its pole pole pole! Step by step by step. The whole team seem super fit. Up over a small scree section and soon we are onto the rarely visited west ridge. This is an airy scramble, better the Striding Edge and would surely have made Lane’s ring tighten. At the peak we get a good long rest to aid acclimatisation.

Back at camp things have taken an altogether more serious turn. Riding and Saunders are removing rocks from the pitch at the International Stadium. Soon, Riding, Bradley, Saunders, Thommo(I) and Taylor are demonstrating their silky skills. Being very careful not to head the ball because it bloody hurts at this altitude.

It’s the same the world over. A few blokes start kicking a football around and before long others join in. Soon there are about 14 expert jugglers of the large, round ball. The beautiful game is about to enter a new dimension.

Tanzania -v- England

11 March 2010

England Team in International Football Match on African soil in 2010, i.e. the World Cup Final

The game is in doubt until the last minute and only after further sterling efforts of Riding and Bradley is the pitch declared fit. FIFA agree the game will be 5mins each way (due to altitude), no sliding tackles, we cant afford any broken or twisted ankles at this stage of our campaign. The ground is filling up nicely as the crowd gathers.

How will the England International Team cope with the obstacles of poor pitch, altitude, high opposition skill levels and fitness. Let’s not forget they may be aging stars but their fitness benchmark was set by legendary undercroft training sessions run by Harry Lane and David Lea in the 1980’s. That kernel of fitness never leaves you.

England play in the traditional white shirts. The referee starts the game and a frantic melee ensues. A long throw from flying goalie Taylor is glanced wide by Thommo(I). Saunders takes early control in midfield. The ball is crossed by Riding and Thommo(I) lets fly a left foot on the volley from 35 yards, the keeper did not move and the net is nearly torn from its fixings. The Tanzanian boys struggle to get to grips with England’s more physical style. Late in the first half Tanzania put together a neat brace of passes, unfortunately the finish leaves something to be desired. Untidy play by the home side is further punished by Bradley’s left footed screaming half volley. 2-0 at half time.

Tanzania start the second half very brightly and string together some nice moves but are let down by a combination of wasteful finishing and three outstanding reaction saves by Taylor. Riding collects the ball, steps over, beats one man, beats him again, feints left, goes right, beats the same man again, feints right, goes right (his team members stop playing and sit down and watch). He is eventually tackled by a large rock which Bradley fortunately left on the pitch, and the game moves on. The referee adds a minute for time wasting. Riding makes amends by landing the killer punch to the plucky Tanzanians. 3-0. As the seconds tick down the referee adds a further minute of Ferguson time to try and allow a consolation goal to no avail.

It’s all over ….. muted celebration, no shirt swaps, at our age we may not get capped again so we are not giving away our shirts. The World Cup is awarded for safe transportation back to England. It was noted that this was Taylor’s fourth ever clean sheet (not a bad record over forty year career!)