Words: Alex Walker
The Lenton Griffins are planning a football tour this summer that will get them into the Guinness Book of Records. The Nottingham-based former university football team will play 14 teams in 14 countries while travelling around Europe and North Africa this summer.
A 17-man squad made up of student footballers will attempt the challenge in the month-long event. They will take on a number of university and semi-professional teams.
They will start in London on July 4, taking in Belgium, France, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Liechtenstein, Italy, Spain, Andorra and Portugal, before arriving in Casablanca, Morocco, 33 days later. They will play a friendly game in each country, as well as sampling the local culture and hospitality. Each game will be refereed by a qualified official to ensure all of Guinness rules are met. The Griffins, who have previously toured in Barbados, are inviting players from universities in the UK to join them on the 5,000 mile adventure.
Lenton Griffins' player-manager Martin Dale (pictured left), is currently busy making the final arrangements for the tour after coming up with the idea following the team's previous success abroad.
"I'd wanted to organise a multiple country football tour for a few years. Then it occurred to me that the team would probably set some of record if we did this. This escalated into a 14 country tour going into North Africa, and requesting a new category from the Guinness Book of records, which they authorised in September 2003."
The majority of the team used to play together at Nottingham University. However, only eight of the original team were available to take part in this tour, so the club has been looking for extra players. The cost will be £690 per player, including all transport, kits, match fees, accommodation and insurance. Martin says:
"The idea of the tour is to go on an ultimate adventure, doing something which has never been attempted before. We're not trying to be celebrities or pro football players, we just want to tour Europe with our mates, play a lot of football and set a world record in the process."
"Most of the teams we have arranged games with are as excited about the tour as us. They've promised us good crowds and, of course, a reception afterwards!"
The club are still looking for sponsorship for their tour to help bring down the costs. Throughout the tour, the players will wear special kits and tracksuits. The team will travel in a luxury 17-seater minibus fully equipped with TV and video.
They will be accepting applications to join the tour until February 14, after which two selection days will be held in Nottingham and London. After that, the successful applicants will join the team on several 'bonding weekends' to prepare for the tour, says Martin. Apparently paintball, go-karting and golf are the best activities for this purpose. They will also get their details on the tour website.
The club has a website at www.worldrecordfootballtour.com where players interested in taking part can find more information and fill in an application form.
If all goes well on this tour, Martin plans to organise the longest ever female football tour the following summer. "It should be a lot easier second time round," he says.
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