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Cyprus Tour 2019It’s Cyprus in 2019. The team aren’t getting any younger, so it as to be scheduled as one of the last tours, until Sangha scored in Tel-Aviv (on the pitch) and then “Where next?”. Cyprus is the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, and was actually the first choice venue back in 2007, before we went over to Malta. The squad of five players is heading direct from Newcastle to Paphos, via Jet 2 on the 27th March and returning, if allowed back in due to Brexit on the 31st March. Three game events have been scheduled v Alana FC, St. Georges FC and then a tournament arranged by the A.M. Fair Game Sports Center. The players taking part are Davinder Sangha, Tim Gillespie, David Gourlay, Chris Dixon and new old boy, Lee “Bulgy” Calvert.
Denmark Tour 2014A fantastic tour saw the team suffer an opening defeat at the DBU headquarters, before storming back in the remaining three games to take the wins. The hotel was excellent, the opponents were amazingly accommodating, which included a barbecue on the beach and free tickets for a Copenhagen game.
France Tour 2013A good set of games, but a disappointing hotel, which, to be honest, was a dive in front of a sex shop (which was the only good thing). An game of volleyball and then one of the most picturesque venues Sassco have ever played in, saw a long range strike on goal from Ed Cook and the first ever games recorded in HD. Unfortunately, David Gourlay, messing around with his Samsung Galaxy on the train; lost it and spoiled the tour.
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Germany Tour 2012{gallery}germany2012/slider{/gallery} One of the best tours to date saw two defeats, despite a large squad. The wonderful city of Dusseldorf hosted the Sassco team, as they suffered a defeat in “cageball” soccer and then another defeat in futsal. Despite this, the venues were great, the hotel was superb and Germans were wonderful.
Iceland Tour 2017Aurora Borealis and volcanoes – and we’re not talking about what happens to Dave G after a few drinks! Sassco headed North to Iceland in 2017. The Nordic island country lies between the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean. It only has a population of 329,000, making it the most sparsely populated country in Europe. The capital (and our location) is Reykjavík. The opponents were superb hosts, white water rafting was exhilarating and the Blue Lagoon was relaxing.
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Israel Tour 2018It’s Israel in 2018. We’ll be taking a bunch of non-believers to the Holy Land, where, hopefully, with an epiphany, they will manage to secure at least three points in the series of games. The venue is Tel Aviv, where we will be taking part against opponents: Soccer Stars and Milan Club Israel, sourced by the resourceful Elad Levin. The four players travelling on the 10th May will be David Gourlay, Chris Dixon, Tim Gillespie and Davinder Sangha. So, while Israel conquered the Middle-East in six days, I expect Dave Gourlay to do it in four.
Italy Tour 2011{gallery}italy2011/slider{/gallery} Venice was the venue for a very successful tour, which saw all the games being played at our own hotel, but even then, we managed to be late for a game. Highlights of the tour included Tim’s mission to find St. Marks Square, before David Gourlay got walloped in the mush with a hard futsal ball and spent the rest of the tour in a bad mood. The tour was one of the most relaxing ones in comparison to the Spain one. Two days and two sets of games on each.
Malta Tour 2008{gallery}malta2008/slider{/gallery} After many cold afternoons struggling in the conditions, Sassco’s idea of a mid-season break overseas finally came to fruition with a weekend tour to Malta. Despite a few failed starts, including a week tour planned to the USA in 2006 (too expensive), then an aborted trip to Cyprus in 2007 (not enough players), the venue for 2008 was chosen as a weekend tour. Eventually, we have 12 who put down the money in the self-funded tour and once we stepped on to the pitch at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, two hours after we landed, the first of many tours started.
Netherlands Tour 2023It’s lose to home and it’s the Netherlands in 2020. The team, now reaching their 50’s will need some medical marijuana for the aches and pains. PowerLeague Amsterdam have kindly agreed to put games, or a tournament on over the weekend during the 7th to the 10th of May.
Portugal Tour 2009{gallery}portugal2009/slider{/gallery} The second tour was the biggest to date, and this time we had substitutes (for a few hours). After Malta in 2008, it was a case of “that’s it, we’ve done it!” and then back to normality. But it wasn’t long before the players started to ask about the next location. So, Portugal was chosen, with easy, direct flights and a full squad. This time, we managed to get a draw, a win and a loss.
Sassco 5/6-a-side
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Spain Tour 2010{gallery}spain2010/slider{/gallery} The recession hit (thanks you c**t bankers), so the tour was all but abandoned, but a late change meant we were back to where we started: Small sided games. An 11-a-side tour was planned to the southern regions of Spain, but one-by-one, most dropped out and eventually we revitalised it as a 5-a-side tour and managed a marathon set of four games in three days around Barcelona.
Switzerland Tour 2016The country which invented the cuckoo clock and shady banking hosted Sassco in 2016. It was in Geneva, Switzerland! Sassco took on FC Semailles in an opening futsal game, before taking part in a specially prepared tournament, the following day, finishing a close second against three local opponents. The games took place on Friday 3rd June 2016 and Saturday 4th June 2016.