Game 7 Susquannha Valley Sabres v. HGS - 28/08/14

Leaving for home the following day, Coaches Stevenson and Walton highlighted the importance to finish off the 2014 USA Tour in style, retaining their unbeaten record.

Lining up with Hancock, Nelhams, Brazier, Davidson, Price, Nunn, Donald, Maffia, Hearmon, Taylor, Ansell, HGS started on the right foot, keeping the ball and making SV work to win it for themselves. HGS took the lead on the 20 minute mark when Captain Donald struck home a beautifully curled shot with the outside of his boot from outside the area, following good hold up play from Ansell on the wide right. 

HGS went in at the break at 1-0 and Coaches Stevenson and Walton handed over their dictatorship from the sidelines to Coach Chamberlain who had a go at the helm. Just as companion Donald did, Jake Brazier capped his last ever game for the Harvey with a goal, when he lashed home the ball into the bottom right hand corner to give his side a 2-0 lead. Minutes later it was 3-0 when Donald (who was now playing at CB) found himself inside the box, where he turned inside the defender and crashed a left foot half volley into the stantion.

 
Brazier then again matched Donald with a serious contender for goal of the tour (although nothing will come close to Coach Walton's effort(s) in the pre tour games at Lyminge!!), his 30 yard drive stinging the keeper fingers as it found the top corner - both graduates now on a hat-trick. Harvey then had a penalty when Hearmon was tripped inside the area. Boston duck tour driver Hobbs stepped up, making it three penalties from three including tour preparation games to make it 5-0. None of the 3 penalties will be making the highlight reels though, with al 3 keepers needing to ask serious questions about themselves.

Both Brazier and Donald came mighty close to ending their glistening HGS careers with a hat-trick but it just wasn't to be. The former hitting the bar with a volley with minutes to go. Overall, the victory ensured that Harvey remained unbeaten on tour, an objective set by the coaches way back in April. The players and staff could now enjoy an evening at the Binghamton Mets Baseball before the long journey back to Folkestone.

FT - Sabres 0-5 Harvey GS.
Scorers - Brazier (2), Donald (2), Hobbs.
Man of the Match - Brazier.

Harvey Grammar School

USA Soccer Tour 2014

#Unbeaten

Games 4, 5 & 6 - 4 Way High School Challenge - 27/08/14

Wednesday saw Team HGS' battles with local high schools. Having had a few days off since their 3 games in 3 days against tough college sides, all apart from Aaron James were fit & ready for action.

Harvey kicked off Wednesday's one day round robin tournament against the Tigers. 

Starting XI Hancock, Hobbs, Brazier, Davidson, Price, Nunn, Hearmon, Nunn (C), Maffia, Smith, Taylor, Taggart 

As with the New York state rules for pre season games, the game started with a goal kick for our opponents (don't ask why as we were never actually informed, but being the polite Brits we are, we simply accepted it & moved on). This enabled us to force immediate pressure upon them, pinning them inside their own half.

With the games duration only a straight through 40 minute game, it was important that HGS got off to a good start with an early goal, and on 16 minutes they found it through Ronan Taggart when he poked home Maffia's near post low cross. 

It was 2-0 just 5 minutes later when Smith danced through two defenders after Hearmon's pass and finished neatly on his weaker left foot. Taylor was close to extending the lead when he cut in on his left foot and smashed a shot off of the post. HGS were not done just yet - Ethan Maffia all but wrapping up the game with the probable goal of the game. Cutting in on his right foot from the left flank, following skilful footwork he stroked the ball into the far corner for 3-0.

Smith doubled his tally for the game when Taylor's whipped in cross was headed home comfortably beyond the keeper for four. Coaches Walton and Stevenson would have been disappointed to lose their clean sheet in the dying embers, an unmarked forward tapped home for a consolation. 

FT - Harvey GS 4-1 Tigers. 
Scorers - Smith (2), Taggart, Maffia

With no doubt the biggest fixture of the final week, HGS faced some of their host families' boys in highly anticipated encounter following lots of pre-match build up and interaction amongst both teams players. After both teams had won their first match of the competition, these were no doubt the two best teams involved.

The line-ups were read out on the tannoy, accompanied by preparation music which the players warmed up to. Coaches Stevenson and Walton decided to start the game with Hancock, Nelhams, Brazier, Davidson, Price, Nunn, Donald, (C) Maffia, Hearmon, Taylor, Ansell.

Following interviews and pre-match media work done for FOX News, the boys were unaware that the game was being filmed and would be highlights would be further shown in a news clip on the news that night. Great pride was displayed in the sounding of the 'God save the Queen' national anthem as the players folded their hands behind their backs and sung for their country before kick off. 

Harvey took a while to settle into the game but when they did they began to cause the host problems. Substitute Ronan Taggart opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when he controlled exquisitely into his path before firing into the top corner. 

Six minutes from time captain Josh Donald plucked the ball down and crashed a half volley in off the underside of the crossbar. With literally the last kick of the game, Hearmon capped things off in style, showing great agility to keep his balance before passing the ball into the net for 3-0, a fitting finale for a great performance.

FT - Maine Endwell High School 0 - 3 Harvey GS
Scorers - Taggart, Donald, Hearmon

Whilst the remainder of the touring party were playing their scrimmages, Coach Chamberlain was asked if he could umpire a girl's field hockey game. Just to give you an indication of the importance that sport has around here, when we arrived, the Varsity & Junior Varsity football teams were practicing, the girls field hockey had a 3 team round robin competition & the girls tennis team had a 3 way tournament as well as the boys soccer that we were involved in. All this 2 weeks before school starts with the competitors having been in school for practice for at least 3 hours a day for the past fortnight!!

New York City - 26/08/14

Today we travelled to New York City. Travelling meant that it was an early start to the day due to the long journey into the city. It took about 3 hours to get there, we managed to park right in the city. Firstly we made our way to the docks where we would get the boat to the Statue of Liberty. We had a tour of the island and were told many facts about the statue and it's surroundings. 

We then took another boat onto another island where everyone used to have to go to go through immigration to get into the country. We then got the boat back into the city and had to get the subway to Times Square. 

We went into the main part viewing all the screens and going into a few shops. When we was tired of shopping we went to get some food in a BBQ grill. We then headed back to the car after a long day.

Report & PIctures - Harry Nunn

Maine Endwell High School - 24, 25 & 26/08/14

After arriving safely & being welcomed by our friends at Maine Endwell High School on Saturday afternoon, we were treated to a picnic & tour of the school. The original plan was for us to have our food out from the concessions stand around their new turf field baseball stadium (a facility that is so good that the New York Yankees have requested that they use it during the Fall & Winter seasons for their minor league franchises), however the weather took over & we were forced inside. This did give our boys the opportunity to see all the other facilities that are on offer to the students of the school.

A famous alumni of the High School is Tom Tull who is now the owner of Legendary Films who were behind such movies as 300, the Hangover franchises & the recent Batman sagas & with the way funding is available over in America, the school has been lucky in the resources he has purchased/donated to them. All around school were pieces of memorabilia including this helmet worn by Gerard Butler in 300.

The Aquatics centre is something that a professional swimming club would be proud off, the weights room has modern, up to date equipment whilst the media department is full of Apple Macs, a full editing suite as well as their own green screen area.

Once the tour was completed (& after all our boys asked why we didn't have any of the things that they had seen), it was time for them to separate up again & head off with their families for this week. Although the boys were staying with the same partners as last week, a couple of pairs were joined together to make a few groups of 4. Again we are massively grateful to all those families that have taken in our boys, pretty much strangers to them minus a few conversations. This week has the prospect of being a great social week with many of the families organising various trips & activities that the majority of the boys can come together for. We have been spoilt with the accommodation as well.

Sunday started with as many of the squad who were around (some were heading to New York City with their families #Lucky) with a pick up scrimmage with some of the high school boys who our squad are staying with on the high school football field. Captains Price & Hobbs selected their sides with the losing team having the threat of a full field set of shuttles hanging over them. This was the hottest temperature that our boys had experienced since we arrived, so the pace & quality was not up to that that we had played in the previous week. None-the-less it was a good session & was nice for our boys to socialise with their family's kids outside of their homes.

Coaches Walton, Stevenson & Chamberlain were again staying with the co-ordinator of the week who this week happened to be the Principle of the high school. Again, this gave us a few privileges as a group. Having keys to the whole school, to help our boys cool down after the game, he opened up the aquatics centre for us. As well as the usual pool toys available, the boys found great amusement in donning full scuba flippers & snorkels as well as the braver members attempting the diving board with flips, bombs & belly flops.

The rest of their Sunday & all of Monday were their own. Again some families had organised some things to do with their touring guests. More hit the city, whilst others went & ploughed some more money in to the American economy by visiting the Syracuse mall. All involved were pleased to have a totally free day & be able to chill out & spend some time getting to know their families more.

The coaches used this time to head back to the high school to check out some of the football training session. Now before we are accused of spying on our opposition before our game with them on Wednesday, let us make it clear we were watching the American Football team. When we arrived, we did not expect that we would soon be padding up in full kit, kicking field goals & throwing passes to their wide receivers. Not one to blow our own trumpets but a 20yd reception was completed for a first down, whilst the kicks were successful all the way up to 40yds.

Tuesday evening was the next time that the whole squad came together at a local amusement area called Chucksters. Here you can face baseball pitches in the cages, try to putt some golf balls on the mini golf course, climb a rock wall & play some volleyball whilst bouncing on some trampolines (#Standard). This gave the touring party the first opportunity to battle against each other in the HGS USA Mini Golf Open Championships. Captain Hobbs, being a keen golfer & having a low handicap, was rumoured to have scoped out the joint the day before to practice some of the tougher holes & just to read the greens. It is home to the longest mini golf hole in the world.

 

Once all the score cards had been collected & the scores were collated, Mr Walton was crowned as the HGS USA Mini Golf Open Championships winner for 2014.

Niagara Falls - 22/08/14

Buffalo Bills Training Camp 21/08/14

After a late arrival back from the game last night, a rather relaxed meet time was welcome, allowing everyone a few more minutes in bed.

As has now become routine, a strict meet time was met by all & we were soon on the way north to the high school which was acting as a car park for the park & ride scheme that the Bills had set up. All of the touring party were excited by the prospect of being able to experience all the razz-a-mataz of the NFL. Whether this was to see the sheer size of some of the athletes on offer (this anticipation only being increased with the news story that broke the morning before of the 92 man brawl that kicked off due to a late tackle!!) or the hopeful dream that the Buffalo Jills would be in attendance & we all could get a picture with a cheerleader. 

After a rather smooth journey (in hindsight it was too smooth, so something was going to go wrong), we parked up in a rather empty looking parking lot. Having arrived earlier than planned, we thought nothing of it so we all got our lunches out to eat before we headed off, whilst a few practised their QB arms with a throw & a catch. The boys are becoming very clever with their attempts at gaining a scholarship. Now even diversifying their choice of sport. Just as the cookie course of our extensive lunches was being consumed, a local pensioner wandered over to have a chat. As as now become standard, we expected she just wanted to find out where our funny accents were from. Instead she simply stated "the camp has been cancelled. You might as well go home." In some what of a state of shock, no one knew what to say or suggest. Being British we simply thanked the lady & sat in silence for a few moments. Luckily, Kane Nelhams (our resident coffee geek) suggested that we try to find a nearby shopping mall to fill the void left by 92 massively oversized men.

Searching through our satnav, we found East View Mall about 10 miles away. Heading off still in a state of shock & disappointment, we were hopeful that the mall could save the day. Otherwise it would be home by 2. As we pulled in to the mall parking lot, our hopes & spirits were lifted as we saw signs for Macy's, A&F, Hollister & American Eagle. The boys piled out of the cars & headed straight for the entrance. The next time we saw them, they would have ploughed more money in to the American economy & they would all be ladened down with bags.

Messages were sent round on social media between the group about deals & offers & savings as everyone buzzed about the mall picking up goods. The mall was so big & the shopping opportunities were so vast, that the coaches extended the meet time to allow everyone enough time to fill up the trunks. . .

The evening's entertainment was organised by the families. We all met up at a local camp ground. The boys were not too sure on what was in line for them as we drove the dirt tracks flagged by forests with only balloons on road signs as directions. However their mood was lifted when we pulled up & saw an awning set out for a huge picnic, with a basketball court, a football (soccer) field, a volleyball court & as many different types of sports balls & frisbees that they could want. Despite playing 3 games in 3 days, with most suffering from aches & pains, they soon organised themselves in to teams.
























Whilst we waited for all the families to arrive, an impromptu strength challenge was laid down by Mr Chamberlain when we offered an open arm wrestling challenge to the boys. Obviously there were many willing volunteers to try to dent his ego. Despite his extensive gym workout sessions for the past year, his attempt to be crowned HGS' Strongest Man was short lived as he was (comprehensively) beaten by Harry Nunn. 

A lightweight, heavyweight & super heavyweight competition was then set up with some varying & surprising results. Rob Price out muscled Sammy Davison, whilst Aaron James was victorious over Sam "Brock Lesner" Ansell. With some newly found confidence from his early round win, our resident art loving, duck boat captain Jake Hobbs decided he would challenge the Coach's family housing Dad Skip (who is also the President of the local university & a local town hero). Hopefully you can see from the video below that Skip's arms are the size of Jake's body & to say it was a bold challenge is an understatement. Needless to say, despite his best efforts Jake was destroyed!!

By the time Nunn had proved is strength through not only beating all willing competitors with an arm wrestle but also with a pull up challenge, the families had all arrived with the food. As has been the case throughout the week, there was so so much to choose from & all of it was very good. Speaking on behalf of everyone, we have been truly spoilt this week & will head home a few pounds heavier (hopefully all the clothes bought this week will still fit. . .).

Once all the food had been eaten & everything was tidied away, President Skip asked if we wanted to take our boys to the ASU aquatics centre for a quick swim. Being the president of the university, as well as a NY State Police badge he has access to all the university facilities that he wants, whenever he wants. After a unanimous yes vote from the squad, we made our way to the pool to be met by the aquatics centre staff who unlocked the centre & gave us access to the "toys store".

Game 3 - Houghton College 20/08/14

After 2 games in the past 48 hours, the boys appreciated the rest time that was scheduled for Wednesday morning in preparation for their game against Houghton College.

Different plans were organised amongst the group. Some headed on in to town to check out the now busier surroundings (the students started to arrive for the school year yesterday), whilst Brazier & Price took the opportunity to carry on their table tennis championships. For those interested, despite Brazier pulling things back, Price still led 13-11.

The journey to the college was the shortest of the week so far & before anyone could contest Jake Hobbs' questionable playlist we were there.

Harvey travelled to Houghton College on Wednesday evening to become the first visiting team to use the brand new immaculate $22million facilities, funded by the Buffalo Sabres ice hockey team owner - something the team were extremely overwhelmed and grateful for. 

As expected, coaches Stevenson and Walton opted to use the ever effective 4-2-3-1 formation, which the team have pioneered since day one. The team lined up as follows:

Starting XI - Roche, Hobbs, Brazier, Davidson, Price, Donald, Nelhams, Maffia, Nunn, Taylor, Ansell.

It was clear from the outset that Houghton had prepared very well for this game, which along with having the home venue and appropriate physical conditioning (Harvey having two consecutive games Monday and Tuesday) Houghton were the favourites.

It was the home side who as expected, came out the blocks very fast - the games tempo being dictated by College's number four, arguably the best ball player on the field; picking the ball up from the defence and playing it forward the wide midfield players. However HGS defended from the front front, and with an aggressive pressing regime through the front four (Ansell, Taylor, Nunn & Maffia), begun to stop him getting on the ball as much.

Harvey failed to trouble the home keeper, with no notable efforts apart from a speculative strike from long range from Taylor which was easily dealt with. At the other end, Roche protected his goal which a couple of fine reflex saves from Houghton's numerous close efforts from outside the box. One, too corner bound Roche flew trough the air to get a strong right glove on it to parry it over.

Following some changes, including a playing role for both coaches Stevenson and Walton, Harvey were fresh from the advantage of rotation for the second period - which showed immediate results when they entered their best spell of the match between 50-70 minutes. Walton (playing as a centre-forward) turned and shot just wide of the post following a clever ball from Maffia.

Harvey again came close through Donald, who looked to have planted his header beyond the opposition keeper, before a glove pushed  it around the post. Donald later looked to have opened the scoring when his crashing header found the net from Taylor's whipped corner - only for the referee to penalise him for a supposed push on his marker.

Neither side could find a goal, and in the dying embers a long clearance from Brazier found Walton who appeared to be in on goal, before the speeding defender applied pressure, unbalancing him before he fired just wide.

The result and great game of football was celebrated in the fitting spirit with both teams getting in the centre circle to thank God for the game. Overall HGS can take this unbeaten momentum into next weeks fixtures when they move two hours South to Bilmimgton, after departing Alfred on Saturday morning. 

FT - Houghton College 0-0 Harvey Grammar
Man of the Match - Rob Price

Match Report by Ryan Taylor.
Photo Credit - Coach Chamberlain. 
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