Swally in Leeds 2004

By Chris Mac
July 21 2004

Internazioswally make our annual trip to Leeds to compete in Worldnet, the Internet Associations football tournament.

Internazioswally travelled down to Leeds, with no keeper, no recognised strikers and second string defence and still had a fantastic weekend.

 

The formula, socialise, play a little football, socialise a little more (ok a lot more), play at least another game of football  and socialise some more, fell flat on it’s face for the Airdrie team at the second last hurdle.

 

The journey to Leeds 2004 began with a beer or two in the Double A, everyone was on time for a change and the party began in earnest. With a few stops along the way and lengthy stop at the Stadium of light we arrived in Leeds just in time to begin the signing, did the other teams all wait for us, if they did it wasn’t long until we broke the ice with our own form of banter, Tam stop pouring beer over people it’s a waste.

 

So the Friday night progressed into Saturday morning and Airdrie had there first match Vs Welling at 9:00a.m.

 

Internazioswally  –Vs- Welling

 

After Aberdeen loaned us a keeper and a young striker and Dumbarton gave us Gio, for which we are great full we were all set to play. It was a good game with two pretty even teams and with the use of only one sub it wasn’t until the last minutes of the game that Welling finally scored.

 

The game ended Internazioswally 0 –Vs- 1 Welling.

 

Internazioswally  –Vs- Crystal Palace

 

This was always going to be the biggest and hardest game of the weekend for us and so it proved. The first half we did well, and it ended 1-1 Palace scored first and a 25 yard screamer (ok a 2 yard tap in) from Dougy Allsop had kept us in the game. Chris the goalie from Aberdeen had some great saves in the second half and it wasn’t until the legs started going and some unfortunate defending at the latter stages that Palace finally took control of the game.

 

The game ended Internazioswally 1 –Vs- 4 Crystal Palace.

 

Internazioswally  –Vs- York

 

The Airdrie fans had two hours to fill and of course we all headed to the pub, the only reason of course was because it started to rain. If the organisers of the tournament ever read this, what happened to the sun?

 

Our only aim during this game was to try and miss an 8:00 a.m.  kick off on the Sunday morning unfortunately it wasn’t to be.

 

The game ended Internazioswally 0 –Vs- 2 York.

 

If we were disappointed after the games, it didn’t take long for that to wash away in Leeds city centre. We had been drawn against Coventry in the first round of the plate with an 8:00 am kick off on the Sunday morning, Coventry went through and the Airdrie boys spent the afternoon sharing some banter with Ayr Uniteds “Kiasayr” and the joint team of Queens of Thistle. By this time wasted doesn’t cover the state some of the team were in (well me).

 

Thanks to Welling, Crystal Palace, York and especially Coventry for being so understanding. Once again a great weekend and roll on next year.

 

See you all soon.