INVICTA VALIANTS PLAY IT LIKE BECKHAM


Players from Invicta Valiants under 11's and under 16's took part in the Daytrippers Junior Disability Football Tournament at The David Beckham Academy in Greenwich on Sunday 1st October 2006
Over Twenty teams entered the tournament including Chelsea, Charlton, Feltham Bees, Northampton, Bournemouth, Hastings, and Larkfield.
Both Invicta Valiants under 11's and under 16's competed in their respective leagues playing some excellent football throughout. At the end of the day both teams finished second in their leagues, the under 11's only loosing two games, both to the eventual winners Charlton, and the under 16's just missed out on top spot by a couple of points.
Although David Beckham was not able to attend the tournament, as he was due to play for
Real Madrid that same afternoon, he did send his best wishes via the hosts, and we hope to see him there at next years tournament, once again sponsored by the charity organisation Daytrippers.
SHIELD RETAINED IN INTER CLUB CLASH
Near neighbours Larkfield were visitors for the inter club shield challenge at Wyvern School on 5th May, where our friendly rivals were out to win back the trophy held by Invicta Valiants. These competitive series of matches played home and away on a regular basis were organised some three years ago when both Larkfield and Invicta Valiants were the only two junior special needs/disability clubs in the Kent area.....
The twenty-six youngsters representing four teams from the Ashford based club travelled to Spain on a five day football tour, to play opposition from the Charlton Athletic European Soccer Schools, and four teams from a special needs school near Torrevieja. With coaches, parents and carers, the party totalled 51.

The players travelled to Spain on February 12th, for a welcoming reception by Soccer Planet representatives at the Hotel on the outskirts of Guardarmar.
The following morning it was off in the club team bus, to the training camp at the sports centre in Guardamar town centre. The morning comprised of some fun football activities, skills sessions and match practice. After lunch at the Hotel, and a leisurely afternoon on the beach, the players were ready to take on their first opponents that evening.

Under floodlights Invicta Valiants were up against teams from the Charlton Athletic Soccer School, watched by parents and carers with a mixture of locals.

Although the matches were billed as friendlies there was plenty of competitive spirit amongst the teams and onlookers. Charlton Athletic fielding two very good sides were the overall winners, and at the final whistle both club’s players were given a rousing round of applause.

The following day it was a very early start for the players, as the club had been invited to tour the training facilities and stadium complex of Spanish La Lega club Valencia.

The tour was organised through links with Charlton Athletic and Valencia sponsors Llanera, who ensured our team members had a day to remember.
While watching the stars of Valencia train, Invicta Valiants players were filmed by Spanish TV, with one of the club’s party being interviewed by a Spanish newspaper journalist.
The party also had a chance to talk with players from semi-professional teams who were using the impressive training facilities.
From the training camp, the Invicta Valiants club members were taken on to see the site of Valencia's new state of the art stadium, before moving on for a tour of the club's current ground, just to the south of the town centre. First the players were given the chance to see what it's like in the opposition changing room.

They then went on to view the club's array of silverware including the trophies won as La Lega Champions, and the UEFA cup and European Supercup winners.
From the trophy room the players went into the pressroom, where they took it in turns to see what it's like to be the centre of media attention in front of the microphone.

Out on pitch side the players took a rest in the main stand of the stadium, to gaze out at the 50,000 seats surrounding the playing area. At the end or the tour the party visited the club shop just before siesta, keeping it open while the shop was emptied of Valencia shirts and merchandise.

The Invicta Valiants team bus then took the party on to lunch close to very modern City of Arts and Sciences centre, from where the party had time to try out some local cuisine and explore the impressive architectural cultural centres before the journey back to Guardamar.
On Thursday morning the players were up early ready for more training, before a series of matches that afternoon. The Kent club took on the Mar Azul School teams made up from mixed ability players.

Four Invicta Valiants teams played in a mini tournament against the opposition who were used to playing in hot and sunny conditions on very hard grounds, and although all Invicta Valiants teams acquitted themselves well, they could only come through with two wins in all matches. Although one match in which the under 11's lost should have been a draw when the winning goal was allowed after an infringement, and the referee was one of the Invicta Valiants coaches!

At the end of the games parents, carers and coaches, from both teams mingled and discussed the opportunities available to special needs and disabled children in Spain, and it was surprising to find that there is a real lack of sports facilities and activities, even educational opportunities, for these local youngsters.

After the matches the Invicta Valiants party returned to the hotel for a presentation evening hosted by coaches from Soccer Planet.

The tour was rounded off with a beach soccer fun tournament on the Friday morning, where players and parents, carers and coaches joined in for some bare foot play. In the afternoon the players, parents and carers took some time out to visit the local shops looking for some souvenirs to take home as a reminder of five superb days when Invicta Valiants Junior Special Needs/Disability Football Club took on European Football for the first time ever!
This tour to Spain would not have been possible without grants, sponsorship and donations issued to the club. On behalf of the players and there families, club members and coaches we thank you for all your help and assistance in making this a truly unique experience.