Page 7 - Chiron Issue 2 2014

Exercise Boston Revolution
By Sgt Andy Shaw
Exercise BOSTON REVOLUTION was a ‘Soccer’ tour to the USA with 6 nights in Boston and 3 nights in New York. The tour was organised by the Episkopi Station Football Club, and I was fortunate enough to be selected for the team as club captain. The tour took place between 13th and 24th May 2014; we had 2 matches arranged in Boston and 1 in New York.
This was my first time visiting Boston. Our hotel was located right near the Boston Bruins Ice Hockey stadium. The Boston area is huge, but Boston itself is only about 50 square miles, compared to Chicago that is about 230 square miles. Boston is steeped in history with the likes of the Boston tea party, the start of the American Revolution and the battle of Bunker Hill.
Prior to travelling to America we had 2 games planned for our time in Boston although unfortunately one of the games fell through. The game that we secured was against Dorchester FC, and we managed to win the game fairly comfortably with a score of 7-1. Even I managed to get a goal in this game!
The main football highlight of the tour was the training session and tour of the Boston Revolution Stadium. Typically American; all the facilities were first class, however, the pitch itself was made up of 4G turf. Whilst this was fine to play on it was certainly not as authentic as traditional grass that we were used to. The training session was conducted by Boston Revolution training staff who put us through our paces for about 45 minutes with an intense session, followed by a friendly game amongst ourselves on the stadium pitch.
In our hotel I was approached by a gentleman who was intrigued as to who we were and our reasons for being a Boston. Once we got chatting I found out the
reason he was in Boston was because his daughter had been in a horrific accident whilst performing as part of a circus act in Florida. She was part of a team of acrobats who hang from their hair while being suspended 40 ft in the air. Before we arrived in America their act went horribly wrong when the structure holding them up suddenly fell crashing to the floor, seriously injuring them. The gentleman asked if we would go and visit his daughter and her colleague (one of the injured acrobats) in the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston. We spoke to them both about their ordeal, and it was obvious they were still very emotional about it which made us feel humbled to be able to visit them; we wish them and their colleagues a speedy recovery.
From Boston we then travelled to New York via coach for our remaining 3 days of the tour. Once again we had a game organised against NYPD FC, but unfortunately it fell through the day before the game. We managed to organise a last minute game against a local college team which was a bit of an anti-climax, however, they still gave us a good game which we narrowly won 3-1.
We spent the remainder of our time in New York sight-seeing, including the Ground Zero Monument and the 9/11 museum which were highlights for me. The monument was breath taking although eerie at the same time, making it really hit home the scale of the disaster in such an impressive city. The museum was fascinating with so many stories of the victims of the attack; I would recommend a visit.
On reflection I had a fantastic 10 days touring America and playing football with a great bunch of lads, and I am very appreciative to have had the opportunity.
Some members of Episkopi Station FC visiting the battle of Bunker Hill monument
Full Episkopi Station Football team and coaches at the Boston Revolution Stadium
Two of the acrobats involved in the accident
Major General J F Rowan OBE QHS L/RAMC Director General Army Medical Services
Major General Rowan was raised and educated in Ulster and graduated in medicine from Queens University, Belfast in 1981.
His immediate post-graduate years were spent in Northern Ireland where he gained considerable trauma experience whilst a member of the TA. Maj Gen Rowan transferred to the Regular Army and became a General Practice Trainer and Course Organiser of Post Graduate Medical Education. He is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of
Glasgow.
In 1993, he moved to full time staff and
command and has worked in a variety of staff appointments including 1st (UK) Armoured Division, 3rd (UK) Division and the Ministry of Defence. Maj Gen Rowan commanded 2 Armoured Field Ambulance in Osnabruck from 1996 to 1999 before being promoted to Colonel and Commander CVHQ AMS in 2001. He attended RCDS in 2007 before being selected for promotion to Brigadier and appointed as D Med Plans (A) at the Army Medical Directorate. In June 2009 he took command of Headquarters 2nd Medical Brigade before assuming the appointment of Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Health) in December 2011 upon his promotion to Major General. Maj Gen Rowan was appointed Director General Army Medical Services in September 2014.
Maj Gen Rowan has completed operational deployments to Iraq, for both Ops GRANBY and TELIC, Bosnia and Kosovo in a range of roles; Unit Medical Officer; Grade 2 staff officer; Commanding Officer, Commander Medical; and Chief J9. He was awarded the OBE in 1999 on return from Kosovo. In November 2010 he was appointed Queen’s Honorary Surgeon (QHS).
Maj Gen Rowan has an interest in and has played most sports but in particular rugby, hockey and skiing though he finally hung up his rugby boots, with some regret, a few years ago. He remains an advocate of Army sport as a method of development of both the Physical and Moral components of Fighting Power. His interests include European / Military history, fine wines and good cuisine.
Chiron Calling 7