Roberts Cup - 2000

RESULTS

FINAL:
GAIS Gothenburg - 0, Ledbury Swifts - 0 (GAIS Gothenburg win 3-2 on penalties)

SEMI-FINALS:
IFK Stromstad - 1, Ledbury Swifts - 2

REPORTS

Fri 11 Aug 2000 - Footballers were a credit to the town

THE Mayor of Stromstad has described young footballers from Ledbury Swifts as a credit to the town following the visit to their Swedish twin town. Erland Lundqvist has personally invited the Swifts to return next year, amid enthusiasm for making the tour an annual event, and praised the team in an e-mail to former Ledbury mayor, Coun Spencer Lane. Paul Nikkinen, spokesman for the twin town's youth team IFK Stromstad, said: "From our point of view, it was a great success. The 24 people that visited Stromstad were very good ambassadors for Ledbury and England. We will keep in contact and see what will come out of it later on." His comments were echoed by Swifts secretary Bob Barnes, who said: "The Swifts gained a lot from the experience and won many friends with their sportsmanship and ability. We all return with fantastic memories and impressions. Sweden was a trip into the unknown and we would like to thank all our sponsors and those people that made it happen. It was an unforgettable experience, which the lads and accompanying adults will remember for a long time."

On the pitch, the Swifts did Ledbury proud. To begin, they had to play three Swedish youth sides in the Roberts Cup, a tournament to honour the memory of a Swedish teenager who died in a car crash two years ago. They won all the matches, the scores being 6-0, 4-1 and 3-0. In the semi-finals, the Swifts held on 2-1 against the determined home team, IFK Stromstad. In the finals, the Swifts played GAIS of Gothenburg, one of the best youth sides in Sweden. A hard-fought match was decided on penalties, and the Gothenburg side won, 3-2. Aside from the football, highlights of the trip included the "friendly atmosphere and welcome" shown to the Ledbury visitors and a boat trip around the Swedish coastline, as far as Norway.

(Ledbury Reporter)


Fri 21 Jul 2000: Swifts to kick-off Swedish tour 

LEDBURY Swifts will be heading for Stromstad, in Sweden, on Wednesday (July 26) to represent the town abroad for the first time in the soccer club's history. A coach will leave the Market House in the early hours for a journey to Gatwick Airport and a gruelling five-day schedule in Ledbury's twin town. The visit to Stromstad will pitch the under-16s squad against seven Scandinavian youth sides, including six from Sweden and one from Norway. Ledbury Swifts spokesperson Steve Onions, of Ledbury Sports and Leisure, said: "This is a wonderful opportunity for the club and the town to further cement the relationship. It's a great honour to represent Ledbury."  The total cost of sending the team to Sweden was around £3,600. Mr Onions said the teenagers had "worked hard to help raise the funds needed." 

Ledbury businesses have also dug deep to make the trip possible. Sponsorship has been received from various local firms, individuals and organisations including MPP Holdings, Quintiles, John Goodwin, Ledbury Twinning Group, Bercor Ribbon, Charlton Investments, Stuart Houghton, Ledbury Preserves, Swifts' president Don Rule and Geoff Fletcher. Support has also been provided by Ledbury Town FC, Westons and Ledbury RBL. On Saturday (July 29), the team will take part in the new Roberts Cup competition, in honour of a Stromstad teenager who died in a car crash. The under-16s squad is the oldest team to play under the Swifts banner. Mr Onions said: "They are very much looking forward to Stromstad. It will be nice for them to end their time with the Swifts by playing in an international tournament."

(Ledbury Reporter)