Calne Multinationals - 9th Algarve WF Cup 2024

It was always going to be difficult to match last year’s performance following the loss of two key players leaving us with just five Calne players for the tournament.

Some last-minute transfer activity in the Algarve market and a lot of administration however saw us secure the services of two players from local side Ferreiras for the first day. We were also drawn in a tough group with Portsmouth, Odiaxere (winners of the May Tournament) and another local side, Tavira.

Joao B, Charlie N, Graham N, Manuel C.
Jon H, Ollie S, Dave H.

Charlie N, Graham N, Dave H.
Andreas A, Jon H, Ollie S.

Unfortunately, we lost our first game 1 v 0 to Portsmouth and a last-minute strike, and then were beaten 2 v 0 by a very good Odiaxere side (the eventual tournament winners... again!). We did however manage to secure a 0 v 0 draw with Tavira in our final game. Though as a result, we finished bottom of our group.

This meant we needed to win our first game on Saturday to progress in the competition. However, we were reduced to six players when one of our Portuguese players became unwell. Soldiering on with a squad of six, which now included a Swedish player replacing our other Portuguese player, we lost 2 v 0 to Stenhousemuir, conceding an early goal and, despite pressing for an equaliser, conceded a second in the last-minute sealing our fate. As a result of this, the highest we could now achieve was 17^th out of 24.

We then won our next game against our old friends Exeter 2 v 0 with two goals from Dave H, the first a very delicate chip over a sprawling keeper. Fortunes began to change with this win, and we went on to beat both Ayr Utd and Shrewsbury on penalties after two 0 v 0 draws. Penalties from Graham, Ollie and Andreas (our Swedish player for Day Two) plus some fine saves from Charlie securing the victories. As a result, we did indeed finish 17^th.

Given things were always going to be difficult under the circumstances and with the last-minute changes, we did manage to turn things round on what was a very long second day, so credit to the squad for sticking with it over some seven hours on the Saturday.

Not to mention a first for Calne Town; fielding both Portuguese and Swedish players in the green and black “verde e preto”. Big thanks to Joao, Manuel and Andreas.