' THANK YOU ' By Vince Alm
Sun Jul 10, 2016 7:48 am
' THANK YOU '
By Vince Alm
I apologise in advanced for this long piece but a few sentences would not do what I want to say justice, and this is the slimmed down version
.
The fantastic Journey has ended on Wales’s football Euro 2016 campaign, as the curtains draw down, and the celebrations die down, this in my opinion has to be the greatest ever sporting achievement by a Welsh team in any sport. The memories of the campaign which captured the hearts, minds of the nation, uniting it as one will be remembered forever in Wales. People who have witnessed this amazing achievement fortunate to support the team during the qualifying campaign, and during the tournament, or those less fortunate who were unable to but were just as passionate and proud as us who did, will talk about the European 2016 campaign until they die.
I have thanked the players, staff, management team, and supporters in general but have saved the best thank you until last, and that is to you all the supporters.
Firstly however I would like to thank my hard working colleagues of the Welsh Fans embassy all of whom like me are volunteers to provide a service to welsh supporters abroad, and supported by the FSE (Football supporters Europe); Paul Corky, Neil Dymock, Wyn Wyn Rhys Lewis, Natalie Lewis, Colin Lewis, Kieran Jones Kevin Davies all put in a lot of time and effort collating information to provide and assist the travelling welsh fans. Also the assistance we provided too many supporters who found themselves in situations in a foreign country without the local knowledge of how to get assistance for example with lost passports, pick pocketed, stranded lost, requiring medical attention etc. We would like to thank you all for all your kind words and comments, the support you gave us, coming to visit us in each host city, and generally being good fun around us.
Like many Welsh football fans we have supported our country for many years with very limited success it has at times been tough. My first international my dad took me to watch was Wales V Poland in 1973 at Ninian Park in a world cup qualifier which Wales won 2.0. Throughout the years I have consistently supported the Welsh national team home and away making lifelong friendships along the way. As travel became easier throughout Europe during the past 30 years I’ve got to see and know the regular group of travellers who follow Wales. We called following Wales our best kept secret as we had good times wherever Wales played regardless of the result.
This qualifying campaign since the Andorra game and reaching the semi-final of the tournament, I have been overwhelmed at the amount of support the welsh nation as given the football team. I never thought we could muster 30,000 supporters to Bordeaux, Lyon, etc the high consistent numbers of welsh fans supporting the team in Belgium, Israel, Bosnia (many travelled without tickets) the home sell outs, have all been a joyous sight to behold.
Your conduct off the pitch during the tournament has been second to none. I don’t care if the UEFA officials gave an award to Northern Ireland for the best fans (probably because they only got one good song) for me the welsh were the best behaved, had the most fun, engaged with all the other countries with no problems to a point where in Lyon we hardly seen a police officer.
" WHAT OUR FANS DID TO GET THERE BY VINCE ALM "
Link
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=174926
By Vince Alm
I apologise in advanced for this long piece but a few sentences would not do what I want to say justice, and this is the slimmed down version
. The fantastic Journey has ended on Wales’s football Euro 2016 campaign, as the curtains draw down, and the celebrations die down, this in my opinion has to be the greatest ever sporting achievement by a Welsh team in any sport. The memories of the campaign which captured the hearts, minds of the nation, uniting it as one will be remembered forever in Wales. People who have witnessed this amazing achievement fortunate to support the team during the qualifying campaign, and during the tournament, or those less fortunate who were unable to but were just as passionate and proud as us who did, will talk about the European 2016 campaign until they die.
I have thanked the players, staff, management team, and supporters in general but have saved the best thank you until last, and that is to you all the supporters.
Firstly however I would like to thank my hard working colleagues of the Welsh Fans embassy all of whom like me are volunteers to provide a service to welsh supporters abroad, and supported by the FSE (Football supporters Europe); Paul Corky, Neil Dymock, Wyn Wyn Rhys Lewis, Natalie Lewis, Colin Lewis, Kieran Jones Kevin Davies all put in a lot of time and effort collating information to provide and assist the travelling welsh fans. Also the assistance we provided too many supporters who found themselves in situations in a foreign country without the local knowledge of how to get assistance for example with lost passports, pick pocketed, stranded lost, requiring medical attention etc. We would like to thank you all for all your kind words and comments, the support you gave us, coming to visit us in each host city, and generally being good fun around us.
Like many Welsh football fans we have supported our country for many years with very limited success it has at times been tough. My first international my dad took me to watch was Wales V Poland in 1973 at Ninian Park in a world cup qualifier which Wales won 2.0. Throughout the years I have consistently supported the Welsh national team home and away making lifelong friendships along the way. As travel became easier throughout Europe during the past 30 years I’ve got to see and know the regular group of travellers who follow Wales. We called following Wales our best kept secret as we had good times wherever Wales played regardless of the result.
This qualifying campaign since the Andorra game and reaching the semi-final of the tournament, I have been overwhelmed at the amount of support the welsh nation as given the football team. I never thought we could muster 30,000 supporters to Bordeaux, Lyon, etc the high consistent numbers of welsh fans supporting the team in Belgium, Israel, Bosnia (many travelled without tickets) the home sell outs, have all been a joyous sight to behold.
Your conduct off the pitch during the tournament has been second to none. I don’t care if the UEFA officials gave an award to Northern Ireland for the best fans (probably because they only got one good song) for me the welsh were the best behaved, had the most fun, engaged with all the other countries with no problems to a point where in Lyon we hardly seen a police officer.
" WHAT OUR FANS DID TO GET THERE BY VINCE ALM "
Link
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=174926
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Re: ' THANK YOU ' By Vince Alm
Sun Jul 10, 2016 7:50 am
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Re: ' THANK YOU ' By Vince Alm
Sun Jul 10, 2016 8:07 am
Well said Vince....I was lucky enough to get to France and had a great time
The Sight of Bordeaux being a sea of red was just an amazing experience
Met some great people and have made many new friends it's been a great few weeks
The Sight of Bordeaux being a sea of red was just an amazing experience
Met some great people and have made many new friends it's been a great few weeks
Re: ' THANK YOU ' By Vince Alm
Sun Jul 10, 2016 8:36 am
I think the biggest thanks should be the other way. Vince, paul etc., did an amazing job over there and also throughout the years when there are no games. Attending meetings, feeding back to supporters, they go way beyond what is required and dont forget this is all volunatary. On that note, maybe we should be looking to making somebody full time in this position, i for one would make a monthly direct debit into an account, so important, not just on the international stage but for club affairs also.
Great job Vince and many thanks from all Welsh supporters.
Great job Vince and many thanks from all Welsh supporters.