Roberts Cup - 2004

RESULTS

FINAL:
IFK Gothenburg - 2, Ledbury Swifts - 0

SEMI-FINALS:
Frederickstad - 1, Ledbury Swifts - 1 (Payne) -- Ledbury Swifts win 6-5 on penalties

GROUP  MATCHES:
Kungshamns IF - 0, Ledbury Swifts - 4 (Locke 2, Herbert, Hinchliffe)
Degefors IF - 1, Ledbury Swifts - 4 (Locke 2, Herbert, Hinchliffe)
IFK Gothenburg - 2, Ledbury Swifts - 1 (Shankie-Williams)


LEDBURY CUP:
IFK Stromstad - 4, Ledbury Swifts - 2 (J Hodges 2) 


REPORT

LEDBURY is twinned with the lovely Swedish coastal town of Stromstad, which is close to the Norwegian border, and one of the highlights of the twinning arrangement is the opportunity for young footballers to visit and to take part in competitive matches against foreign opposition. A party of 19 youngsters, mainly from the Ledbury Swifts team that had participated in the Herefordshire Junior League U16s division this season, accompanied by 10 adults, left the Market House for the journey to Stromstad via Stansted and Gothenburg. Six ladies from Ledbury Tennis Club also shared the journey. On arrival the party was accommodated in chalets and the clubhouse at Stromstad's impressive sports ground.

IFK STROMSTAD 4, LEDBURY SWIFTS 2
THE first game was played between IFK Stromstad's youth team and the visitors, for the Ledbury Cup. It was the home side who took the lead on 15 minutes. A quick free kick caught Swifts napping, and a low shot gave Tom Smith in goal no chance. Ten minutes late another great cross by Tom Locke gave Stromstad real problems, and soon afterwards good work by left back Sam Hodges allowed brother Jack to squeeze between defenders and calmly slip in the equaliser.

On 35 minutes a Dan Herbert free kick provided Jack Hodges with another opportunity, his looping header evading the keeper's fingertips to give Swifts a well-deserved lead. The lead didn't last long, an astute pass allowing a home player to turn and cut inside to shoot low and hard to equalise. Soon after the restart no-one took charge of a straight ball and the Stromstad striker got ahead of Tom Smith to clip the ball home. A worrying number of Swifts players started to suffer injuries, and the substitutions unsettled the side. Stromstad now took control, and increased their lead with a goal on the break. This was enough to win them the Ledbury Cup, although Swifts could feel proud of their battling performance.

Roberts Cup

THE tournament is based around a series of 40-minute games over the course of a day. It's a gruelling event, the local teams having the advantage of being in mid-season and match fit, whilst Swifts finished their season in May. Swifts first task was to qualify from their group, involving three games.

LEDBURY SWIFTS 4, KUNGSHAMNS IF 0
SWIFTS kicked off at 9am, the sun blazing down even at this time of the day. The team from the Swedish coastal town had a physical approach but Swifts superior play saw them win 4-0 with goals from Tom Locke (two), Dan Herbert and Matt Hinchliffe.

LEDBURY SWIFTS 4, DEGERFORS IF 1
DEGERFORS had made a long trip from the centre of southern Sweden and were a decent footballing side. They were less physical than Swifts' previous opponents, and a good open game resulted. Swifts went a goal when an offside flag was over-ruled but equalised through Jason Payne before half-time. Swifts again scored soon after the restart through Dan Herbert and the move of the game then made it 3-1. Dan Hunter made a great interception, and passed to Jason Payne, who produced another calm finish. Matt Hinchliffe again made it four. 

LEDBURY SWIFTS 1, IFK GOTHENBURG 2
WITH two wins to date Swifts were sure of qualification, so manager Merv Carless could rest some of his players. Tournament favourites Gothenburg had also qualified, scoring 15 goals in two games. Gothenburg went 2-0 up in the first half but Swifts hit back in the second. Jim Shankie-Williams fired in a cracking shot to reduce the arrears, but Swifts were unable to produce an equaliser.

LEDBURY SWIFTS 1, FREDERIKSTAD 1
SWIFTS met the winners of the second group in the semi-final, a truly formidable team from the Norwegian port of Frederikstad. This team was professionally prepared and boasted a Norwegian youth international striker. Swifts took the lead through Jason Payne, although the opposition were convinced he was offside. Swifts then were forced to defend grimly for the rest of the game with some great defensive work and saves by Tom Smith. Only in the last minute did they crack, a move from the left being clipped in from close range to equalise.

A penalty shoot-out was now called upon to resolve the deadlock. With four goals each from five kicks the competition went into sudden death. Jim Shankie-Williams and Jason Payne did their job as the drama continued. Frederikstad's 7th penalty arrowed towards the bottom corner, only for Tom Smith to stretch and get a solid glove on the shot. The big goalie then sprang to his feet and ran the length of the pitch, having seen Swifts into the final.

LEDBURY SWIFTS 0, IFK GOTHENBURG 2
EARLY play was quite even, Swifts direct style contrasting with Gothenburg's pass and move approach. The Swedish side took the lead on 15 minutes, when the ball was not cleared in the penalty area and the striker finished cleanly. Tom Smith had to produce another fantastic diving save to keep Swifts in the game. Gothenburg attacked and again failure to clear the ball was punished with a shot that gave Tom Smith no chance at all. The game petered out, Swifts running out of energy against the deserved winners.

Swifts collected their runners-up medals, heads held high after a fully committed and spirited performance. Ledbury Swifts coach, Steve Onions says that friendship between Ledbury and Stromstad is now so strong, a local team will go every year to take part in the Roberts Cup, as a firm annual event. The Swifts have already sent a side every year for five years, and Steve said that this is surely now a tradition that will continue. He said: "This year's trip was another great success, with our team once again getting through to the final. It's about the sharing of cultures and the building of a team spirit that will stand them in good stead in later life."

Each year, the Swifts have to raise about £4,000 to take part in the Roberts Cup at Ledbury's twin town, against some of the best junior youth sides in Scandinavia. Steve thanked local businesses for their great support and said he hoped it would continue. He said: "Our boys were a credit to the town."