Liverpool- Knowsley Tour TUS Köln rrh U17 (girls) Winfriedia Mülheim (boys)

29 July - 6 August 2001

In the course of the city-partnership between Cologne and Liverpool, we had received an invitation to an international football-competition "LKIYST" to Liverpool.
Sunday
At 5 o`clock pm we were fetched by a charter-bus at the athletic ground TUS Höhenberger Sportpark which took us to Köln-Mülheim where we met the boys. Afterwards we started going west and soon arrived the border. During a fuel-stop in Middelkerke/Holland the girls already started playing football with the boys. Then when it was getting dark we took a rest in Gent/Belgium. There we got a new bus-driver and immediately our journey went on to Calais, a harbour-city in France, where a ferry was waiting for us. Some of the kids were amazed to see so much space on the ship for cars, busses and lorries. Just after the lights of the docks disappeared we already saw the fortress which is magnificent situated up to Dover. After a short control of our passports and a correction of our watches , the trip went on riding at the left side of the street. We rode on the whole night and reached our destination at 8:30 am. The hospitality we already enjoyed on the receipt, could not be exceeded and it lasted the whole week. The campus of Liverpool, where we were lodged in the student hostel is situated in a wonderful park. Also teams from Ukraine, China, South Africa and Ireland were living there.
Monday
That was the day to got to know each other, discover and acclimate ourselves. One hour before lunch some teens met on the lawn to play a little bit football. Suddenly more and more children came until finally everybody was assembled and so there were not only ball-connections but a first meeting among all the teams. This muddle of boys and girls was getting an every-evening ritual.
Tuesday
The first competition-matches started on the athletic grounds of the FC Liverpool. Unfortunately we were not very successful. In the evening there was an opening-celebration. Within the scope of this the eleven nations who took part were presented and 73 teams were built. The mayor welcomed everybody personally.
Wednesday
This day we had more success in the matches. In the evening we were invited to a friend-ship-match in the stadium in Manchester. Manchester United was playing against Celtic Glasgow in front of 66.000 spectators. The kids were inspired by the fantastic atmosphere.
Thursday
Winfriedia Mülheim made a respectful result against South-Africa (1-2). Before the matches our TUS-girls made photos with the kind Norwich girls from Fyllingen. In the evening a disco was arranged in the university. Even the Norwich came along, although they were lodged on the outside.
Friday
Today was no match because this day should become a very special day. We were invited to a sight-seeing-tour, including the visit of the Anfield-Stadium and the museum of the FC Liverpool. Later the mayor welcomed us in the historical town-hall . He gave us the symbol of Liverpool ( the eagle ) and the coat of arms. Then we visited the splendid halls where famous history was written. After a break we visited the Anglican Cathedral. Afterwards we took part in a ship-tour on river Mersey. The sight-seeing-tour was finished with a visit in the museum "Liverpool Life" along the wonderful harbour. Everybody who was not tired yet could go to the swimming-hall.
In the evening a delegation of every team was invited to an official meeting in the town-hall. A player-girl read the letter of the Cologne Lord mayor to the present persons and gave a little present to the mayor of Liverpool.
Saturday
Our girls had a friendship match against the girls from Manchester-Stockport. In the end of the match it started raining. But the rest of the week the weather was fine. The boys had their last match but they could not achieve the finals.
Sunday
Already after breakfast we had to pack up because it was the last day. At 2 o`clock pm the final match started against the English girls from Seville, which unfortunately was lost (1-5). But in spite of this there was no bad mood because the best player and the best goal-getter were Germans. After it we said good-bye to everybody and started our way back home.
It was not easy to leave all our new friends and so there were some tears in many eyes. Our route back was the same like in the beginning to England. At about 11:30 am we were back in Cologne and so a wonderful week with fantastic events was over.
We have to say thank you to all organizers, attendants and helping hands from England for the hospitality. We will never forget this tour!
We want to say a special thank to the municipality who made this journey possible. We would like to take part in the next tour again.

TUS Köln U17 (girls) Winfriedia Mülheim U16 (boys)
(Cologne, Germany)