HORRABRIDGE Under 15s, last season?s League Champions, have recently returned from a trip to Haarlem, in Holland.

A total of 22 travelled in a coach supplied by C J Down.

The first round league games found Horrabridge playing against Dutch, American, Swedish and English teams. The first game was against a strong team from Holland KNVB who were beaten 3-1. Second game was against IFK Sundsvall 1 from Sweden. Quick passing soon saw off their challenge 3-0 to Horrabridge. The third game of the first round was against FC Fernhill from Kent, who were also unbeaten in their first games.

A fast game was expected and the match finished 2-2. The final first round game saw Horrabridge play The Eagles from America and finish 1-1.

Horrabridge had already qualified for the Champions League section.

The first game in the second round was against Barry Villa a team full of confidence, who had won all their first round game. From the kick off Horrabridge carved their way through the Barry team with ease and quickly went one up from Ashley Gaden but that stayed the score to half time. From the kick off again Horrabridge dominated the game, a corner gave Bridger?s their second from Richard Goldsby-West. Horrabridge forged away and scored 2 more from Matthew Gaden to make it 4-0.

HFC Haarlem oozed confidence and ended up winners. The third game came against a disciplined team Yu Chang MHS. It started well for the Bridger?s as Matthew Gaden put them in front, only to finish defeated 3-1.

Horrabridge played with flair and commitment and created more chances in the first half, the Horrabridge keeper had nothing to do in this game that went into the break 0-0. The second half started in much the same vein as the first, a hard physical game with big tackles all over the park. Horrabridge clinched the game with a training ground ball over to Harri Hardy who put the ball away for a well deserved win over a team who finished with 10 men on the pitch.

O Watergraafsmeer, the last game in the Champions League Section, proved that Horrabridge could play football with the best of them. The second half saw the West Devon team dictate and a deserved goal by Matthew Gaden gave Horrabridge the game.

Horrabridge finished third in the Champions League Section, a marvellous finish considering the population and amazing football played throughout this tournament.

This multi cultural tournament saw players from most continents, teams came from China, Taiwan, Venezuela, Mexico, USA, Canada, India, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Finland, Sweden, Italy, Germany, Poland, Holland, Belgium and Spain.

All of the squad are very grateful to the sponsors and contributors who made this all possible. If we didn?t have the support of the local businesses in helping to push the youth of the village forward, the boys of Horrabridge Football team would not have been able to compete in The Haarlem Cup Holland.

Sponsors included: John & Sandra Andrews of The Chippie Horrabridge; The Dartmoor Caravan Park at Magpie Bridge Horrabridge; The Carpet Centre Tavistock; Horrabridge Village Twinning; Greg Lang of GMC Projects; Aztec West Ltd and Reverend GW Ball.