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 7: Friday 29th June 2001

CHUFFED!
At the half-time break today, the boys and girls named me "Honorary Wildcat for Life," and presented me with the Boys team's home and away #29 shirts!

I was so shocked that I could not speak for several minutes!

This was a most generous and thoughtful act. These kids have reserved a special place in my heart that will last the rest of my life!

Back to the camp. In the first session this morning, we worked on throw-ins and creating space. They caught on quickly, especially the two older groups.

After that, we had a 7-on-7 tournament similar to the one we had earlier in the the week, mostly to assess their progress. I'm happy to tell you that everyone showed some improvement, and some had made great leaps. I told Tony that, if they were in Swansea, I'd give the names of several to the scouts.

This improvement is not a result of my teaching. It's the result of their desire to learn and be better.

I think the camp has been a huge success. Kids learned and had fun doing it. The coaches were very pleased with it. And I loved every minute of it-- hard work, long hours, and everything.

If you look at the pictures that show vegetation growing around the field, you'll see that the hill is covered with a plant with purple flowers. This is mad, but that plant is VETCH! There are so many coincidences!

I had a good laugh when I realised that some of the campers had borrowed my expression "unlucky" when something happens that's against their plan, like missing a shot.

And then I realised that I had borrowed one of their favorite expressions when someone does something well -- "Good job!" I'll probably drive my team-mates mad with that one.

At the end of the camp, the staff and I presented every camper with a 3-inch round cloth badge with the camp logo on it. Here, camps and tournaments usually end with some kind of cloth badge which most players put on a large ring and carry on their school bags. The badges themselves are just small pieces of cloth, but they carry a lot more value than I thought.

I also did autograph duty on camp t-shirts, patches, and footballs. When Tony warned me, "No autographs on anything made of skin," I thought he was joking. Well. . . .

Today for MY after-camp training, I had FOUR campers to push me.

This evening, I had my last visit with both Peggy and Tony, my hosts at the Vicksburg Inn. He's away before I get up tomorrow morning. You could not ask for better hosts than those two. If I ever come back this way again, you can be sure I'll stay at the Vicksburg Inn.

This evening, we had an end-of-camp "pot luck" picnic. Lots of good food, naturally.

On our way to the picnic, we stopped at a "drive-in bank." My first. Mad. Attached to the bank proper were two lanes where cars could drive in and stop and bank through the car window! The cash machine was also a "drive through"!

The coaches each made a short speech, and I was given a gift of a mug with "Mifflinburg" and a picture of a buggy on it.

Speaking of buggies, I was shocked when an Amish buggy drove up and the driver offered me a ride! One of the parents had asked a friend to do it for me! Not everyone gets a buggy ride. I loved it! And I was surprised at how fast they can go when the driver wants to. I was told that many, if not most, of the horses are retired race horses.

Quite a number of the kids asked for your URL, Gary, and many more asked how they could buy Swansea clothing. I wouldn't be surprised to see Guestbook entries from some of them.

I think we may have a lot of Swans fans over here now, with Tony as chief fan.

I told them that if they every come over, they should ask for me at the gate and I would see that they got in free. I do expect to see some of them again!

After food and speeches, we all went off to play volley ball. After that, I was invited to the home of one of the footballers to swim in their pool. It was lovely.

A successful camp. "Honorary Wildcat for Life." An Amish buggy ride. This was an excellent day.

Tomorrow morning I must leave. Sadly, I will leave a part of me behind -- but happily, I'll take a larger part of Mifflinburg with me. Whichever way you look at it, I win.

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