ALCESTER TOWN F.C. Exchange trip to Vallet/Mouzillion October 2006

On Friday the 20th October a coach full of Alcester’s footballers, friends and family left for an exchange trip to our twin town of Vallet near Nantes in the Loire Valley in France. The Alcester Town Under 12 team with parents and coach Ian Chester were aboard, full of anticipation about this exciting trip. In total 49 people were on the coach including the veteran’s team and partners.
We traveled down to Portsmouth and caught the over night ferry to Caen, after the boys had discoed the night away we slept on the coach until we arrived at Vallet for the civic reception and meeting our hosts for the first time. We were warmly welcomed by the Mayor and then after a glass of the local white ‘muscadet’ wine (juice for the kids!), we made our way to the hosts for lunch. This was typically French (more muscadet !!) and enjoyed greatly. Then since the national car rally was visiting the region we watched screaming cars traveling at great speed through the local vineyards. We then prepared for the Veterans match against Vallet’s crack team. It was a fierce game played in the mud and the rain and Alcester Town stormed into a 3-1 lead at halftime. Unfortunately Vallet fought back in the second half to narrowly win the game 5-4. So after Alcester holding the cup for a couple of years, Vallet rejoiced in winning it back. After this cracking game we went to a buffet and disco in a local village hall organized by the Vallet/Mouizillion twinning association.
On the Sunday morning the boys were prepared by Ian and assistant coach Shaun Stephens to battle it out with the 3 local teams, 20 minutes each, one after another. A fantastic display of football was presented in front of at least 50 supporters from France and England, with St George’s flags and Tricolors waving. It was 1-1 after the first 20 minutes and there was all to play for. However as new French players came on and English legs tired (Only one sub and the goalkeeper lost to injury !!) the final score was 6-1 to the French. It was far closer than the score line suggests and some of the French boys seemed very tall!


Sunday afternoon and evening was spent with our hosts and a fantastic presentation of cups and shirts and bottles of wine to both teams, and many speeches of encouragement to everyone involved in the twinning, between Alcester and Vallet/Mouzillion.
Early Tuesday morning we climbed aboard the coach, and stopped at a huge hypermarket and shopping mall for some gifts and then we were off to Bayeux to see the tapestry, before boarding the over night ferry back to Portsmouth.
Finally many thanks to ‘Bish’ Sallis for organizing such a wonderful trip.