Page 20 - QARANC Vol 18 No 2 2020

18 The Gazette QARANC Association
3 Medical Regiment Football Tour to Thailand
After a successful first half to the season, 3 Medical Regiment Football Club went into 2020 chasing the league and cup double success. With morale high and the team playing exciting expansive football, 3 Med FC travelled to Asia looking to conquer Thailand. Following a 14 hour flight to Bangkok, the team wasted no time settling into their new surroundings and took every opportunity to explore the culture of the bustling Khaosan Road, dubbed by many as the ‘backpacker centre of the world’. During the day, the streets would be packed with market stalls thriving off travellers from all over the world, selling everything from clothes and electrical goods, to exotic fruits and every cooked insect you could possibly imagine. Conversely, at night time the street would transform into a road full of food stalls and bars selling food and drink from all corners of the world.
The following day the team headed out for a training session run by football tour veteran Major Nige Bamford. The session allowed the squad the perfect opportunity to dust off the cobwebs and to gel partnerships for the upcoming fixtures. Low level possession-based drills, chance creation and conversion and a few small sided games provided the management team with several selection dilemmas for the first fixture of the tour. After a great training session, the team went out for a team bonding session to grab local cuisine and watch a Muay Thai Boxing Match. With Muay Thai being the national sport of Thailand, the stadium situated in down-town Bangkok fully lived up to expectations. Technical fights, stands filled to the rafters and an explosive atmosphere gave everyone a great insight into competitive sport within Thailand and a taste of what to expect the next day.
Match day. After a 30 minute drive through the busy roads of Bangkok, 3 Med FC turned up feeling fresh and ready to take on Kiwi FC, the team 2nd in the Bangkok Premier Amateur League. It took 3 Med FC 20 minutes to find their feet and grow into the game. A lack of acclimatisation and a hungry opposition out to prove a point resulted in the away team being half yard off the pace. Consequently, 3 Med FC were caught on the break by two great counterattacking goals within the first 10 minutes and found
themselves 2-0 down. Following a rousing team talk from Nige Bamford and a couple of substitutions, the travellers clawed their way back into the game with an amazing 30 yard volley from Skipper Ash Adams. A corner from the experienced Paul Strickleton lofted perfectly onto the edge of the box allowed Adams to recreate the goal Scholes scored in 2006 against Aston Villa, sending the crowd into raptures. Strong spells of possession and die hard defending from the Kiwi back four managed to keep the score at 2-1 for the majority of the second half. With five minutes to play, the inevitable happened as 3 Med scored a great team goal to square the game. An interception from Andy Tobin and a lovely pass out wide allowed playmaker Patterson to get his studs on the ball and read the movement of the forward line. A superbly whipped ball to the back post allowed Strickleton to smash the ball home to level the game 2-2. A great comeback and team performance from 3 Med FC was capped off by a team social with Kiwi FC. Although the game finished 2-2, as always, football was the winner.
After a successful few days experiencing the football and culture of Bangkok, the team travelled to Phuket to prepare for their next game against the British International School. Beautiful beaches, blue skies and warm temperatures provided the squad with the perfect conditions to recharge after their first match and prepare for the next fixture. Yoga on the beach, a game of beach volleyball and a team meal looking out over the ocean placed the squad in a great position going into their second game. Boasting amazing facilities and set in a stunning region of Thailand, 3 Med FC arrived at the British International School of Phuket looking to pick up where they left the last game. Under the stewardship of Dan Tweed, the team started the game strongly and dominated possession for 90% of the game. Following numerous attacks, 3 Med keeper McMillan was finally called into action after 20 minutes to sweep up a long-range clearance from the opposition. Taking the opposition striker out like a scene from Vinnie Jones Mean Machine, fortunately cultured centre half Harrison was at hand to sweep up to ensure McMillan was only booked and not sent off. The woodwork, bad luck, poor finishing and
a string of world class saves from the opposition keeper somehow managed to keep 3 Med at bay with the game finishing 0-0.
The following day saw 3 Med FC rest up and travel as a team on a cultural excursion to Panak island, Kai island and Koh Phi Phi via a hired speed boat. Beginning at Panak island and moving onto the famous James Bond Island named after the movie ‘The Man With The Golden Gun’, the team enjoyed the chance to have a dip in the sea and go snorkelling in crystal clear water to view the exotic colourful fish hiding amongst the coral. This was followed by lunch and a chance to explore Koh Phi Phi, an idyllic and backpacker friendly island located in the Thai Gulf.
On the final day of the tour, the team were back at the British International School of Phuket for their final fixture against Phuket Academy FC. Run by coaches from the Brazilian Football Club Cruzerios, the team featured several players looking for scholarships and contracts from football clubs around the world. The Academy had previous successes finding players contracts, with professional clubs QPR and New York FC snapping up past Academy products. Depleted through fatigue and injuries, 3 Med FC went into the game against a youthful and capable opposition. Sitting slightly deeper than they usually would, 3 Med FC eased their way into the game looking to slow the game and hit the opposition on the break. Clearly feeling the effects of a long tour and growing injury list on the side-line, the team were caught out by a pacey counterattack from the opposition. Despite pushing for an equaliser and pacey strikers Yaya Touray and George Ray testing the opposition keeper, 3 Med FC were unable to find an equaliser and went into half time 1-0 down. 10 half time substitutions from the opposition saw the Academy side start the second half strongly, eventually going 2-0 up after a wonderful 30-yard strike. Despite the loss, 3 Med FC had numerous positives to take away from the closely fought contest, and yet again football turned out to be the winner.
Lieutenant Andrew Tobin 3 Medical Regiment