Toddy Goes Stateside

What started off as a pipe-dream last winter, finally became reality this week when Chris Todd, the outstanding find of last season, flew into Philadelphia Airport.

Day 1: Saturday 23rd June 2001

I left the Quadrant Coach Station just after midnight for the overnight ride to Gatwick. Arriving early gave me enough time to check out the US Air desks and enquire about my paperless ticket which I had booked over the Internet.

The plane took off more or less on time at 12:30 and just over 7 hours later it was still only 3:00 in the afternoon as I touched down in Philadelphia. Great flight - and managed to watch a couple of new films too!

The trip through Customs seemed to take almost as long as the flight across the Atlantic, but I'm sure it was just eagerness to get here.

What a sight it was, when I stepped through the door into the Lobby, to see young Nick standing in front of me wearing the black SCFC Jacks on Tour T-shirt and holding up a small photograph of the club flag! And there, not too far away, marking the other door like a good defender, was Michael in his white kit shirt and a sign saying, "Toddy." Mike has Boundy's name and number on the back. It was almost like being back home.

Had a lovely 2 hour drive along the Pennsylvania Turnpike, then on ordinary back roads, to Hershey, Pennsylvania. Beautiful scenery. Forest alternating with fields. Everything is so very green . The small towns looked just like in the television programs. They reminded me of the "Witness" starring Harrison Ford.

We went first to Hershey to take in an A-League football game between the Hershey Wildcats and the Connecticut Wolves, in a battle for top of the league.

Had a pleasant chat with the Wildcats' General Manager, a man from Grimsby.

The game went into double extra-time (or overtime as it's known as here) at 0-0, but ended that way. I'll send you my views of A-League football later.

Hershey, I learned, was founded by a man named Milton Hershey, who made a fortune making chocolate. Poured most of his money back into the town, building an amusement park, hospital, theatre, school for orphans, and I can't remember what else. He built the stadium where we watched the game. I also learned about the "Hershey Bar," but have not tasted one yet. I'll let you know what I think of that, too. (A bit like sour cheese Toddy - GM)

On the way to Mifflinburg, Tony took a wrong turn and went south instead of north for a few miles, as we were intensely discussing the camp, and we arrived at my bed-and-breakfast at midnight local time. I dozed for about an hour of that trip. When we got there, he almost drove past it, but I recognised it from pictures on their website. I was most pleasantly greeted by both my hosts, even though it was midnight.

We're up now and off to do a little tour of the town and some planning for the camp. I'm looking forward to visiting the facilities we'll be using.

Click here to go back to start page

Click here to go back to the diary page