Monday, 10 November 2014

Match 14. Schalke 04 U21 v Benfica U21

Wednesday 29th October 2014 @7pm
FA Premier League U21 International Cup
SCHALKE 04 U21 V BENFICA U21
Princes Park, Princes Road, Dartford

Admission: £3
Programme/Team sheet: N/A
Attendance: 150 estimate
Refreshments: Guinness, £3.20, Chips £2 (Yuk!), Kit Kat 80p 

A very rare midweek jaunt out tonight mainly due to the fact I was playing chauffeur to my daughters who were off to Bluewater for food & cinema. I saw this little known fixture while researching into travelling with Dartford to their away fixture to Forest Green in late November. 

I won’t describe the ground but the entrance used is the one near the car park only. The hot food pod was open behind the far goal and drinks were available next to the turnstiles, usually used for away fans and Greenwich Borough fixtures. The attendance consisted of a handful of London based supporters of each side, about 100 Dartford supporters and 30ish curios including me. The chips in the refreshment kiosk were so disgusting I chucked half of them away. The chips had absorbed all the cooking oil, rank! 

The Schalke team were numbered 1-11 whereas the Benfica team had random numbers from 60-97 with their names very small on the back but I worked out a few when they got close enough to the goal line. The whole match was dominated by the Benfica lads to the excitement of the Benfica London chorus, who made quite a noise considering there were only 5 or 6 singers. The only goal of the game came midway through the second half but the Rufus Brevet lookalike no85 who finished off a lovely move, with a 1-2 in the D before despatching into the net to the keepers right. 

I’m still not sure of why this competition is in place. It seemed hastily arranged, without much notice (6 days) and without the support of FIFA/UEFA.

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