44th EMPA Football Tournament: Emden

September 7th, 2008 by JCB
Posted in Coastlines | No Comments »

A team of UK pilots took part in the European Pilots Football Tournament for the first time in many years. Congratulations to the Ems Pilots for both winning and hosting a superbly well organised and thoroughly enjoyable event in Emden Germany.

left to right

Back: Iain Baird (Liverpool) Simon Jones (London) Willie Terry (Forth) Derek McAuley (Forth) Stefan Looij (Liverpool) Wayne Roberts (Bristol) Andy Bissaker (Liverpool) Tony Crew (Manchester)

Front: Simon Wood (Liverpool) Kenneth Macinnes (Forth) Dave Roberts (Liverpool) Tony Crew (Liverpool) Kevin Walsh (Liverpool) Peter Flanagan (London) Martin Greenslade (Bristol)

Things got underway on the Friday night with a welcome party where all the teams got to meet each other over a few drinks and the draw took place for the following days matches. 12 teams of pilots took part: Weser/Ems, Amsterdam, Vlissingen, Livorno, Rotterdam, Brunsbuttel, Ostend, Hamburg, Antwerp, LeHavre, Kiel Canal and The UK.

After breakfast on Saturday our coach transferred us to the sports ground which consisted of 3 full size pitches with: changing rooms, refreshment areas, massage room, lunch tent and bar. In the meantime pilot wags enjoyed a local sight seeing excursion.

During the day each team played 4 games – 15mins each way and the 2 teams accruing most points played in the final.

We won our first game against Vlissingen 2-0 – a really good start. We drew our second game against Amsterdam 1-1. The third game against Weser/Ems was the crunch one we needed to win to keep our route open to the final but but it was a hard fought 1-1 draw against a good team who eventually won the tournament. We needed a win in our last game against a weaker Brunsbuttel side to reach the 3^rd and 4^th play-off but despite a lot of late pressure we only managed a 1-1 draw.

The final was between Weser/Ems and Livorno. – Efficiency against dramatics. – Its was tied to the last – 0-0 after extra time with some heroics from the Italian keeper.

It went to penalties and the Germans were victorious. The UK team achieved a respectable 6^th.

After the final all teams celebrated with a happy hour at the bar.

Adequately rehydrated buses transferred us to our hotels and then on to the dinner dance and presentations which went on to the early hours.

After brunch on the Sunday it was time to make our way home and nurse the sore limbs.

A special thank you to the Liverpool pilots who made all the arrangements for the team UK.

Next year the event is taking place on the weekend of 7^th May and is being hosted by Ostend Pilots. Any persons wishing to get involved please contact Stefan Looij (Liverpool)

Stefan.looij@btinternet.com