11 Jun 2008 - ITS OFFICIAL! [Check out the UPDATES]
UPDATE03/4 [10/11 June 08 - HFH U15's return from a SUCCESSFUL Tour. See the FULL Match Report. Photographs added]
The twenty HFH U15’s players, three management team members and the twenty nine parents &, family members all recently returned back from their ground breaking tour of the Czech Republic.
This adventurous tour was only decided upon at a late stage in the just completed rugby season. Nonetheless, the shortness of time didn’t deter from the quality and success of this tour into unchartered waters.
At the outset, the HFH U15’s had decided to ‘spread the word’ about the game of Rugby League and so via The RFL, the HFH Club were put in touch with Andy Fairhurst, Rugby League European Federation (RLEF) Development Officer for the Czech Republic.
[Visit the RLEF - click on the link below]
With his RL contacts at the Czech Association of Rugby League, the HFH Club were able to start developing a plan of action and getting a better feel for what the essential criteria of a successful tour would be. With Andy Fairhurst providing valuable information and assistance, the HFH Club went about making all their own travel and accommodation arrangements.
The first task was to set about finding out the details of flights to Prague, with the commonly accessible economy airlines not offering any flights from the North West area. East Midlands or Gateshead were the only quoted Airports.
That’s when the HFH Club were introduced to ‘travel counsellors’, a company based in Bolton. Via Personal Travel Counsellor Sam Dando, the HFH Club was offered a service which was second to none, and resulted in an ideal flight from Manchester Airport to Prague on Czech Airlines.
[Find out more about travel counsellors - click on the link below]
With flight details confirmed, the hotel and transportation logistics could then be developed. The HFH Club resolved a suitable hotel and coach company, for both transporting the Touring Party at home and in the Czech Republic.
The tour was geared towards not only providing the HFH U15’s players with an opportunity to tour abroad but to also provide them with an experience which would live with them for the rest of their lives. Not only that, but to also see and appreciate the cultural differences that exist between differing societies.
The players assistances in helping to develop Rugby League in a new country was an important aspect of the tour – the benefits accrued by the HFH U15’s players were just as valid.
Andy Fairhurst was able to provide a fixture at Beroun, some 30 Km from Prague; with a fledgling Rugby League club who had formed some months previously and who consisted of players ranging from U15’s to U19’s. These were called the Beroun Black Panthers, and so a fixture was arranged for Thursday 29th May.
With the HFH U15’s Touring Party arriving in the Czech Republic on the Tuesday evening, details were mapped out for the itinerary on Wednesday 28th May. The opportunity was made to ensure the HFH U15’s ‘put something in to the tour’ and so arrangements were made for the Tour Party to visit Usti nad Labem, a town located to the north of the country and near to the German border. As it was, this proved to be a coach transfer journey of some ninety minutes from Prague.
But why choose Usti nad Labem?
Simple - because Usti nad Labem was twinned with Halton, and what better reason than to visit a town which has some connection with the HFH U15’s players own town? Not only that, but Usti nad Labem have never seen a rugby ball, let alone possess a rugby team of any description. Therefore this town was targeted as definitely been an area for the HFH U15’s to focus on, both for the benefits of the Czech Republic children and the HFH U15’s players themselves.
[Click on the link below - find out more about Haltons 'Twinned Town]'
http://www2.halton.gov.uk/content/communityandliving/twinning/ustinadlabem/?a=5441
Not only that but it was also thought to be the most fitting place for the HFH U15’s to fulfil their desire to help Rugby League develop in another country. Once again, with the help of Andy Fairhurst, the HFH Club were able to secure assurances from the Usti nad Labem Lord Mayors Office, that all preparations would be made to accept the HFH U15’s Touring Party on the Wednesday.
All that remained now was for the HFH U15’s to start fund raising and for the HFH Club to start advertising the fact that a tour of this magnitude had now been definitely confirmed.
It was also time to start collecting the rugby equipment which would aid the development of Rugby League in the Czech Republic. As a developing country, they possessed very little rugby equipment or rugby kits, etc. The HFH Club were able to seek out several rugby kits, tackle shields, water bottles/carriers, kit bags, etc, from some old stock. Rugby balls were kindly donated by the RLEF and Linde Sterling Ltd.
Together, the whole package was air freighted on a pallet to the Czech Republic some days in advance of the Touring Party. Gratitude goes to the Top Hotel Praha for allowing acceptance and storage of the rugby equipment, prior the Tour Groups arrival.
[Looking for a hotel in Prague - click on the link below]
After arriving on the evening of Tuesday 27th May, the HFH U15’s Touring Party got the wheels of the touring coach rolling, as they set out early Wednesday morning on a trip to the northern parts of the Bohemia.
On arrival at the Usti nad Labem school (Zakladni Skola), the Touring Party was greeted by the Schools Director, Mr Miloslav Cechura, who along with other teachers commenced taking what proved to be the start of continual photographs.
Congregating on the school’s main steps, the HFH U15’s were asked to pose for a team photograph, as organised by Schools Director. This was followed be a verbal greeting from the Usti nad Labem Lord Mayor, Mr Jan Kubata, who had obviously practised his broken ‘English’ welcome address.
After the formal welcome was complete, the HFH U15’s were taken to the schools sporting facilities, which appeared to be a relatively new development. Connected to the school via a walk-way bridge over a less than busy road, the grounds revealed a marvellous array of facilities.
A grassed central area used for athletics and ball games (not Rugby League), which was surrounded by a wrap around concrete low tier stepped viewing gallery. This was complemented by a changing block and other ancillary buildings. Further into the grounds area, the HFH U15’s were directed into the schools Third Generation ‘All Weather’ playing facility. It was here that all the school’s pupils had collected to watch this unique bringing of a new sport to their school and their country.
Before activities got under way, the HFH Club Secretary, Ian Yates, presented the Usti nad Labem Lord Mayor with an engraved crystal salver (engraved with details of the HFH Clubs visit) and a specially designed & framed HFH Celebrate Certificate in honour of the HFH Clubs visit. Jan Kubata was also presented with a HFH Club tie, which Jan promised to wear on his planned visit to Halton Borough Council, in several weeks time.
It became known that for any Czech person to see their Lord Mayor was a really rare occasion. They tended to deal with top level affairs, while their deputies dealt with the general public. Once this was mentioned, the Touring Group realised what a privilege it was to have the Usti nad Labem Lord Mayor watching them perform a demonstration game of Rugby League. The school children must have been more bewildered and possibly thought he was part of the Tour Party, until the teachers confirmed it was ‘their’ Lord Mayor.
In temperatures in the high 80’s F, the HFH U15’s, under the watchful eyes of Head coach Neil Meadows and Coach John Goulding, commenced running through their normal drills. The watching children were amazed to see the ‘oval shaped’ ball and how it was tossed about.
At the same time, another group of Czech children were taken to one side by Andy Fairhurst and given their very first taste of handling a rugby ball. Cries of laughter began to ring out as the Czech children started to find out that a rugby ball, once it bounces, doesn’t go in the direction you expect it to. Pure bewilderment and excitement could be seen on the children’s faces.
Interactions between the HFH U15’s players and the Czech school children was the next event, with the school’s teachers watching intensely as the HFH U15’s conducted basic training techniques. This was followed by a ten aside rugby league demonstration game by the HFH U15’s, the Czech children/teachers watching aghast has the players with the ball were tackled (hit)!
To round the occasion off, a game of interactive Bull Dog was played, which the Czech school children loved. Some of them showing great pace, while others attempted to ‘tackle’ the running person (didn’t take them long to learn!).
Before departing the HFH H15’s Touring Group were treated to a three course meal (the chips been most welcome) and the exchange of gifts. The HFH U15’s presented the school with two rugby kits, kit bag, club junior ties, rugby balls (a much sought after commodity by the Czech school children), and the School Director receiving a HFH Club Tie and HFH specially made HFH U15’s CZ Touring Polo Shirt.
A parent donated Widnes Vikings rugby jersey (last season’s design) was also given to the School Director because it represented the Borough of Halton and showed the Liverpool City of Culture 08 logo. It was thought this was the most appropriate appreciation of the schools lifelong memories of the Usti nad Labem and Halton ‘Town Twinning’ relationship and the HFH U15’s visit.
With hands waving from both nationalities, the HFH U15’s coach as driven by Czech coach driver Stephan, set on their way for the long road back to Prague. This had been a fantastic success for ‘spreading the word’ of Rugby League and Andy Fairhurst was really appreciative of the HFH Clubs determination to visit Usti nad Labem. This was a new development area which he would now concentrate on developing. This was not just because of the ‘Town Twinning’ and the Halton aspect of Widnes Vikings, but predominately because of the HFH U15’s pioneering adventure into this small visited town.
It didn’t take long for the Usti nad Labem authorities to post details of the HFH U15’s visit to their town! See link below.
[What did Usti nad Labem make of the HFH U15's Touring Party? - click on the link below and find out]
http://www.usti-nl.cz/showdoc.do?docid=6719
[Need a good online translation site? - click on the link below]
http://uk.babelfish.yahoo.com/?fr=avbbf-uk
On the Thursday and in temperatures remaining in the high 80’s, the HFH U15’s set out on their next venture to Beroun. The destination was Beroun but unfortunately with the town only having three football pitches, the pitch being utilised by the Beroun Black Panthers had been retracted by the owner. Fortunately, Andy Fairhurst was able to find a suitable football pitch in ‘Srbsko’.
Looking on the map, the place was only a winding road across country from Beroun and therefore not too much of an effort to reach. How wrong the Tour Party were. Driving along roads – no not roads, paths – the coach driver Stephan had to have his expertise head on has he encountered and manoeuvred some tight turns on sheer drop edges.
It was thought that the tarmac would never stop and that the HFH U15’s arrival at Srbsko was just a dream but worse was to happen! On finding a small road side signpost saying Srbsko, a roar of cheers were broadcast on the coach. This soon turned to dejection as the coach driver encountered a ‘road works’ sign, which prevented any further advance along the road and into Srbsko. This was the time to get the mobile phone out and seek help!
After five minutes of Czech high vocal conversational words between Stephan and a saviour (!), somehow there was just enough space to get the coach turned around and head back along the road the HFH U15’s had just travelled.
Almost an hour later, the HFH U15’s found themselves entering Srbsko from the other side of the road which had previously denied them access at the other side. The jokes then started circulating one of which claimed there were only one set of road works in the Czech Republic and that just happened to be on the Srbsko road.
But the setting of the football pitch was in a worthwhile-to-wait-for idyllic setting. Running parallel to a small river, sheltered on both sides by hills and their covering of dark green lush trees, it seemed a shame to break the silence of the singing birds and the tranquil of the two camping tents occupants.
Once again, the temperatures were topping the high 80’s and the first job was to unload the coach from its contents of a multitude of rugby equipment. These were all then carried to the changing room block were they were laid out and presented to Beroun Black Panthers. The equipment consisted of tackle shields, rugby kits, water bottles/carriers, rugby balls, etc, etc. Andy Fairhurst, representing the Beroun Black Panthers, was more than happy to accept these gifts from the HFH Club. He stated that the establishment and maintaining of a Rugby League interest in the Czech Republic depended on amateur clubs, such as Halton Farnworth Hornets, visiting the country and bearing gifts.
The Beroun team was a cross section of ages and wearing their Black Panthers rugby kit, they looked a formidable outfit. With corner flags in place and post protectors wrapped around the football posts, referee John Goulding got the game underway. The other match officials were lines men Andy Fairhurst and HFH U15’s parent and volunteer, Geoff Spencer.
No bangs, bumps or smashes were toned down for this development fixture and both sets of players gave it their all; water for the players of both sides was an essential ongoing component of the game.
As things turned out, the rugby knowledge of the HFH U15’s brought them through with a comfortable victory but the win was academic. What this game was about was the Czech Rugby League player’s continual extension of their learning curve, and that is certainly something they extracted from the game.
When the players all met at a local hotel (within walking distance from the playing area), the hosts provided the HFH Touring Group with a meal. Many friends were struck up between the HFH U15’s players and the Beroun players; there was a continual flash from cameras as opposition players paired up to their opposite number for a memory photograph.
Before departing for their trip back to Prague, the HFH U15’s presented their Beroun ‘Man-of-the-Match’ award to player number six, Jan Buben, while number ten player Michal Hora, received the runners-up spot. Both players received a commemorative medal from HFH Secretary, Ian Yates.
Andy Fairhurst was also presented with a special touring framed HFH Celebration Certificate, HFH club tie and HFH CZ Touring Polo Shirt. Beroun Black Panthers Team Coach Michal Priputen, was also presented with the same type items.
In return, the Beroun team selected their HFH ‘Man-of-the-Match’ award. This went to Danny price, while the runners-up place went to Carl Mercer; Danny received a Beroun Polo Shirt and Carl a Beroun peaked cap to keep the sun off his shaven head.
Ian Yates received a Beroun pendant on behalf of the HFH Club.
With all goodbyes said and a hint of a return next year, the HFH U15’s Tour Group walked to the coach and headed back.
[Find out more about Czech Rugby League - click on the link below]
http://www.canza.cz/ezine/rugby_league/
With the experiences of the journey to Srbsko, it was thought nothing further could hinder the progress of the coach back to Prague; how wrong could everybody be! Having encountered the only road works in the Czech Republic, the HFH U15’s now encountered the only ‘Learner Driver’ in the Czech Republic. With a successful result against the Beroun side and many new friends made with their counterparts, it was time for the HFH u15’s and the rest of the coach members to relax, laugh at the situation and take-in the breath taking beautiful scenery.
On arrival at the hotel, the HFH U15’s Tour Group presented the coach driver, Stephan, with a HFH club tie and HFH Polo Shirt. He was delighted to receive such gifts but he had done a fine job for the Tour Group.
The HFH U15's Team Head Coach, Neil Meadows had nothing but praise for a successful tour saying.......
"A vast amount of planning and hard work went into organising this Rugby Tour but the final success of the tour actually lay with the HFH U15’s players themselves. As it is, their appreciation of what they had experienced, the memories that can never be taken away from them, and the Czech player’s camaraderie were something that should live with them forever."
What more can be said?
Well until next year’s return tour to Usti nad Labem and Beroun/Srbsko - watch this space!
Finally, all of this of course, could not have happened without the support of all those kind and generous sponsors and individuals. They were fully behind the HFH U15's tour fund raising efforts and without them this tour would never have got off the ground.
Thank you all so much.
To see the full list of sponsors please CLICK HERE
To see the Match Report please CLICK HERE
To see photographs please CLICK HERE
HFH Management Committee
HFH is a 'Clubmark' and 'Club Halton' accredited club
[End]
UPDATE02 [25//04/08 - Halton Farnworth Hornets make NATIONAL PRESS]
The HFH U15's end of May 2008 Tour to the Czech Republic is certainly making ripples in the publishing world. This well engineered and organised Tour is a ground breaker for the HFH Club, and hopefully sets the template for all future HFH age group tours of an International magnitude.
The latest advertisement/publicity punt for the HFH U15's Tour of the Czech Republic has appeared in a National Newspaper. This is none other than the DAILY TELEGRAPH.
The link is provided below for your own viewing of this marvellous editorial write-up. The blogging (posting) of readers comments also make interesting reading and demonstrates the high visibility of Rugby League pundits, in wishing the Tour every success.
Take a read yourself - you might even want to add to what has already been said!
CLICK HERE for the Daily Telegraph Online
HFH Management Committee
HFH is a 'Clubmark' and 'Club Halton' accredited club
[End]
UPDATE01 [15//04/08 - Folly Lane U18's just played Beroun Black Panthers]
Folly Lane U18s beat Beroun Black Panthers team 06 - 66 (i.e. ten tries to one - there were no goal kicks) but the Beroun lads did alright,.
For many of them, it was their first match and the English side were much bigger and more experienced than the Beroun guys. Their lack of game-sense showed especially when they started to tire.
Yet for the Beroun team, it's a learning curve and they still got some much-needed game time at the 13-a-side game and against an established team, rather than playing against each other in modified games.
For photographs of the game please CLICK HERE
HFH Management Committee
HFH is a 'Clubmark' and 'Club Halton' accredited club
[End]
Milan Mrtynek (CZ)
Founder, CZARL
Andrew Fairhurst (UK)
Development Manager
The Halton Farnworth Hornets U15's will be representing the HFH Club in the Czech Republic at the end of the current season (2007/2008).
An 'end of season tour' has been confirmed with North West Counties, BARLA, the Rugby Football League, the Rugby League European Federation and Czech Rugby League Association.
The tour will take place between Tuesday 27th and Friday 30th May 2008. The tour party, consisting of some 52No people (including 20No Players and 3No Team Management Staff), will fly from Manchester to Prague, with the tour group staying in a hotel just outside the centre of Prague.
Arriving Tuesday evening, the tour group will have a full day of sightseeing on the Wednesday. On the Thursday, the HFH U15's will travel to BEROUN to play a friendly game against one of the Czech RL Junior sides. The HFH U15's will, in some respect, be following in the footsteps of Gateshead Panthers. In May of last season the Panthers toured the Czech Republic and played a Czech representative U16's team. It drew a crowd of some 1,300 people, who witnessed the first ever Junior match against a Czech schools U16's. Let's hope the HFH U15's can match this and help promote the game of Rugby League in this new territory. The opportunity will also be seized on this day, to exchange coaching techniques, and for the HFH U15's players taking on the role of coaching the Czech Junior players. This will be over seen with the watchful eye of HFH U15's coaches Neil Meadows and John Goulding.
Giving the HFH players the responsibility of coaching/training players from a different country will allow for a more relaxed surrounding from which the HFH and Czech Junior players are able to learn and respect each others different cultures.
By making this end of season tour to the Czech Republic, there will be other benefits accruing besides the players having a greater understanding of other countries traditions, ways of working and cultural differences. It is also helping the RFL to develop the game of Rugby League in new pastures and it will also help a bit closer to home, i.e. the Borough of Halton.
Halton is 'twinned' with a town called 'Usti nad Labem', which lies on the Czech Republic/German border and the RFL are looking to setup a new development area in Usti nad Labem. With the HFH U15's playing rugby in the Czech Republic, Usti council officials will be officially invited by the RFL to attend the friendly fixture.
This link-up will strengthen the Halton/Usti nad Labem 'twinning' arrangements since the RFL, via the British Embassy in the Czech Republic, will be looking towards contacting Halton Borough Council to see if they would like to be involved with promoting Rugby League in the Halton Boroughs 'twinning' town.
Look towards the end of season tour, there may well be HBC representation watching the HFH U15's play their friendly game on Czech soil, while at the same time, strengthening the twinning town’s links with the Usti nad Labem officials.
And who said it was only a game of rugby?
If you want to learn more about the development of Czech RL or about the HFH U15's tour, then please utilise the links below.
It is hoped that further details of the actual tour, how the fixture went, how the coaching sessions went and how the 'twinning' link-up went, can all appear in this article on returning home from the Czech Republic.
HFH Management Committee HFH is a 'Clubmark' and 'Club Halton' accredited club [End]