Whitstable Town U10's win Deal Town Tournament

At around 23:13 on Sunday 11th July, the nation took a collective groan as the English men’s national team were defeated on penalties in their quest to end 55 years of hurt and bring football home. It had been 31 days of a fantastic football tournament, that took fans through a range of emotions and despite ultimately being disappointing, united the nation and gave us a collective experience in the most turbulent of times.
Rewind 37 hours and another tournament was just starting at Goodwin Academy in Deal, as our 10 player squad entered the Deal Town Rangers 6 a side Tournament.

With Louis away and Finlay unavailable, we had the remaining 10 of Phillip in goal, Max P, Rufus, Kasper, Daylee, Max B, Alfie, Isaac, Flynn and Oscar. The format was 2 groups of 6, 10 minute games, top two through to semi finals. The day was full of drama and a microcosm of the Euros as we all went through a whole range of emotions:

Confusion: Which pitch? Where is the ref? When will it all start?

Joy: It was the wrong pitch, the ref did finally turn up and we did eventually start. The lads got off to a good start in a 2-2-1 formation, gaining a two nil win against Woodcombe Youth.

Despair: Second up we faced hosts and bookies favourites Deal Town, a disjointed display saw us fall to a convincing 3-0 defeat.

Boredom: A long break in the rain and plenty of moaning left the lads at their lowest point in the day, reflected in a 1-1 draw with Wye and a display that provided more questions that answers? When would it stop raining? When can we go home? Do I have time to get a hot dog before the next game? Is Sibley’s new 1-3-1 formation the answer? Can we still mathematically go through?

Hope came in the form of answers. It stopped raining and with a couple of other group results going our way the lads knew they had to win their remaining 2 games and we stood a chance. With Max P is full warrior mode the formation was working, the full squad was playing its part and Tony 'Southgate' Sibley had produced a tactical masterclass, with all 4 subs coming on half way through the games we romped to two wins 2-0 v Rising Stars and 6-0 v Deal Town’s other team.

Anticipation: We all waited for the app to update. And confirmation of what we had calculated came, we had squeezed through in second place. The lads were so chuffed and the pressure was off, we had looked like going home early just 2 hours before but like all great teams we had grown into the tournament and took this new found confidence into the semi final.

Fear: an emotion more for the watching parents and management than the team as we took on Group A winners TSC. We moved pitch, but the lads were again at it from the start taking an early lead. All the squad played their part again, but TSC got a deserved equaliser. We fought hard and as the ref blew the final whistle we knew we were on to the dreaded penalties! 3 each then sudden death. All the lads were united behind each other and that spirit plus some great pens and brilliant saves from Phil saw us amazingly win and we were into the final.

Anxiety: In the final we faced our runaway group winner Deal Town Rangers, who had beaten us 3-0 earlier in the day. But this was a different Whitstable Town, we showed great resilience and every one of the ten players battled and deservedly held on for a 0-0 and on to another penalty shoot out.

Elation: Again sudden death and some opportunities from both teams to win it. Phillip produced another save and Rufus stepped up to calmly hit the winning spot kick. The team all ran together and let out all their emotions. Well played to all the other teams and especially Deal, who our lads sportingly congratulated as well at the end.

So ended a great day, where we all rode the emotional rollercoaster and left Deal, celebrating the triumph with ice creams, Trophies and big smiles all round. Max P was our player of the tournament, but well played all, a real team effort.

It may not have been Wembley, it may not have been the National Team or the Euros, but in a little corner of Deal and for a great bunch of lads from North East Kent, memories were made and for them football did come home!