British tour met with Aussie grit

The British Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers football team kicked off their Australian tour with a 7-0 thumping of the Army Apprentice School’s men’s side in Wodonga.

The tour, from May 7 to 21, featured men’s and women’s teams travelling across Victoria, NSW and Canberra.

They brought a massive contingent of 44 members from the corps, featuring an even split of 22 men and 22 women.

In Canberra, the British men overcame a 1-0 half-time deficit to defeat the ADFA Vikings 3-1, while the women dominated the ADFA Queens 5-1.

ADFA player MIDN Hugh Livingston said his team played with determination despite the loss.

“We’re not going to sit here and say we’re the Socceroos, but we had to show them the way we play, how we speak to each other and the grit we display as Aussies,” MIDN Livingston said.

“To come out here and play against probably one of the best teams we’ve faced as an ADFA squad and to put up that kind of performance, I’m really happy with how we played.”

Queens captain OFFCDT Grace Hereford said her primary objectives were to field the strongest line-up and try their best.

“We focused heavily on having fun, especially since we didn’t know what to expect from the opposition,” she said.

“We had a solid defensive line and central midfield group. The wings are still developing, but the team kept fighting until the end.”

As striker, she found herself a bit isolated upfront due to the opposition’s presence.

“They forced me to pull back into the midfield to help my teammates, but I still managed a few good attacking runs,” OFFCDT Hereford said.

British SGT Jake Allen said the matches were highly competitive.

His team initially planned to play a slow, possession-based style to gauge the opposition and cope with the expected Australian heat.

But a cooler day in Canberra allowed them to abandon their conservative plan earlier than expected and build heavy attacking momentum after conceding the first goal.

“We were shocked by the mobility of the Australian players; they were running everywhere,” he said.

“The atmosphere on the pitch was highly competitive yet respectful, filled with laughing and joking between opponents.”

He said the first matches they played in Wodonga served as a brutal introduction to the Australian heat.

“Our players were dripping [in sweat], while marvelling at the local players wearing full base layers,” SGT Allen said.