The RNU23 squad conducted their final Inter-Service competition preparations during a training camp held in Gibraltar 15 – 20 Feb 2010. The temperate climate coupled with the Service infrastructure provides the ideal location for the coaching staff to refine the tactics and shape of the team prior to the annual competition against the RAF and ARMY.
The team travelled from London on Mon 15th Feb 2010 and having landed on the Rock without the inconvenience of a weather induced detour via Malaga. Given the scarcity of assets in Gibraltar and the competition for pitch time, the team headed straight from the airport to the Victoria Stadium to take on a Gibraltar FA U21 Select team. On a fairly wet and blustery evening, the conditions found the RN team somewhat lacking and the local team came away with a fairly comfortable 3-0 victory. With plenty to work on, the RN Manager, Lt Cdr John Gordon, along with the coaching team: WO1 Neal Frame, POPT Martin Pollard and POPT Javon Hockley set about organising the team in preparation for the second game of the training camp.
The team were hosted during the visit by POPT Dave Wilson who pulled together a varied programme of both training opportunities and team building activities. The first serial saw the RN squad support the BFBS ‘Big Salute’ charity event held on Pancake day, with the players picking up an award as ‘Top Tri-Service Tossers’. The remainder of the week was made up of training sessions and fitness work although there was plenty of time for some of the more junior members of the squad to explore the history and culture of Gibraltar.
The second fixture took place on Fri 19th Feb 2010 against a Combined Services Gibraltar team with the RN team looking to build on the work conducted throughout the course of the week. Encouragingly the team performed much better, with a concerted effort to get the ball down and play football through midfield. In particular, AET Brookes (820 Sqn) and LPT McEvoy (Caledonia) both had outstanding performances against experienced opposition and the RN team went on to win 3-0 with goals from ET Stockton (Daring), AB McLoughlin (Vanguard) and AET Longstaffe (Ark Royal).
Having had the chance to celebrate the result and the performance, the squad headed back to Portsmouth on Sat 20 Feb 2010 where they remained together as a squad prior to the first Inter-Service game against the RAF.
The training camp would not have been possible without the generous support of the RN/RM Sports Lottery and squad sponsorship provided by LSC Group Ltd.