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Woodhurst Tour - Vicenza 2002
The Italian Job
A sensational season ended with another superb tour for Woodhurst in the Italian city of Vicenza.
The home of World Cup stars Paolo Rossi and Roberto Baggio (who are incidentally two of only three Italians to have picked up the European player of the year award), the city's main club, and former employer of the earlier mentioned goalscorers, Vicenza Calcio was the reason the destination was selected over a year earlier.
Even before Aalborg 2001, former Woodhurst gaffer Darren Venn had extended an invitation for the 'Hurst to visit the club where he now runs his over of marketing matters. And so, on the 14th June 2002, twenty men travelled from Stansted airport to Vicenza, via Verona to meet up with tourist number 21, a late substitute for the absent Paul Jones, and the man himself Darren Venn.
No sooner had the squad dropped their bags in, they were whisked away by Venn taxis - doing a twenty minute shuttle service - to the nearest club, and what a place.
In a cross between a medieval courtyard and a Wild West ranch, club Metropolis with its huge canopies, also provided the boys with some liquid refreshment and a superb and plentiful array of fine eye candy. Giving one lad, a former Italian resident well versed in the lingo, a chance to rot his teeth and fill his boots.
The Saturday had two high points, with the Woodhurst v Vicenza Calcio match scheduled for early evening in the main stadium, the boys made their way to the venue for 1pm to relax in the sun and settle in preparation for the England v Denmark world cup fixture. By the end of the first half, not only were Denmark sunk, but three crates of beer had also disappeared, hardly preparation for a big match three hours later, but England were on their way to the quarter finals, so who cares.
Darren then shared with us Vicenza's pot of gold, Paolo Rossi's Italy shirt from the World Cup final in 1982, complete with grass stains, his Golden boot from the same year and two World Player of the year trophies, one gold, one silver. An amazing collection of memorabilia worth at least half a million pounds.
By six a clock, after an hour of sunbathing and practise penalty shootouts in the 30-degree heat, the game was underway. Woodhurst looked the stronger from the word go, but a lack of penetration and squandered chances handed the onus to Vicenza who took the lead through who else but Darren Venn.
By halftime it was 2-0 but Woodhurst were confident and soon after the break Ryan Houlton's 20 yard strike pulled the 'hurst back in to it. Vicenza then made it 3-1 and club captain Nick Bashford, who was taking in a spell on the bench said in his Brummy drone, "Fuck this, I'm going up front."
No sooner had the tall centre half uttered the immortal words, in flashed his first effort - a twenty five yard top corner strike - that shocked everyone including himself, though he walked away with the swagger of Tommy Lee just after he'd boned Pamela for the first time.
A simple tap in after a great move down the left set up the unthinkable. Bash scorer of only one goal all season, was handed his hat trick chance on a plate - after Vicenza had stretched their lead once again - and he gobbled up his penalty with aplomb to put the scores level at 4-4 with five minutes remaining and earn himself the match ball (though afterwards Darren gave the club 8 new ones).
By that time the heat had taken it's toll on the Englishmen who'd satisfied themselves by getting back into the game and on came Ron Sotherton to 'sure' up the defence with Roy Lawley taking the gloves in goal. But the new formation of 2-3-5 would be their undoing as the home side knocked in 3 late goals - including one from Matt Wood on of the three WFC Tourists to play for the opponents (Mike Kelleher and Matt Bradbury the other two).
Final score: Vicenza Calcio 7 - Woodhurst 4
The after match celebrations spilt over into a nearby restaurant where pizza, pasta, beer and wine was consumed in abundance and awards were presented. Roy Lawley picked up his 100th appearance trophy, while Bash scooped Jimmy Woodham's Player of the Year award. Jan Souleyman, Terry Parris and Steve Hughes also collected the trophies award after the cup final.
The remaining evening and day was spent in the town of Vicenza, a couple of bars, and also back at the club for the first half of Ireland v Spain on the Sunday afternoon. A game or two of spoof in the Town Square, a few more tidy sorts passing by and the team cleared out the local fly pitcher of all his moody italian shirts at six quid ago, he went home happy and so did we.
Another superb tour. Who know where for 2003? Is Miami a bridge too far???
Click here for more from Vicenza 2002, including photos and a run-down of those lucky enough to travel
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