READ: Barry Gorman's previous blog entry
Since it has been awhile since I last communicated, I didn’t want you to think I have been grounded. A lot has happened so I’ll try and bring you up to 35,000 feet which is where this program is now that we are going to be playing for the MLS Cup this Sunday in Toronto.
From the tremendous send-off to Real Salt Lake, complete with Coach Hyndman’s birthday cake at the American Airline desk, to the great result and homecoming welcome it was an extremely memorable trip. The thoroughly deserved triumph in LA over a very talented and expensive Galaxy team made sure this season-to-remember continued. Coach Hyndman’s recognition as COY was another tribute to the turnaround that Schellas has orchestrated over the last two and a half years. Fantastic! And when the journey ends in Toronto with an MLS Cup success it will be a truly magical season that every FCD fan will want to savor and say they were a part of it.
So you can appreciate that FC Dallas is committed on all fronts, let me share with you my week’s program of events, because truth be known I had to get the LA result long distance in the wee hours of Monday morning.
Monday
November 8, 2010
The week began with a 10:00 a.m. American Airlines flight to Monterrey, Mexico for meetings with the Tigres administration. It was a full day as Eduardo Carvacho and I met with President Alejandro Rodriguez, Technical Director Hector Gonzalez and Marketing Director Beatriz Ramos
FCD fans are well aware that we enjoy a warm relationship with Tigres and the main objective of this trip was to strengthen that connection while working on dates for the Rio Grande Plate games in 2011. However the big news coming out of Monterrey that day was that Hector was named as the Mexican National Team’s Technical Director. Congratulations to Hector. It still didn’t stop us from making plans for future Tigres – FCD relationships and Miguel Gaza is the new Technical Director.
Tuesday
November 9, 2010
Another round of meetings as the day started early to maximize our limited time in Monterrey. The main focus was twofold. 1) Possible player exchanges and long term relationships. 2) Academy relationships. We spent the morning with Dennis Te Kloese, the Tigres Academy Director. The Dutch born Academy Director speaks fluent Spanish and has comprehensive knowledge of both American and Mexican youth soccer. It wasn’t all meetings, as we were able to watch the Tigres first team train in the stadium.
Wednesday November 10, 2010
6:30 am: This time it is a flight to State College PA to get ready for the Big Ten Quarter Finals at Penn State University. Man, that 4:00 a.m. alarm was not a welcome sound.
Thursday
November 11, 2010
It was a long day of soccer as the Big Ten Quarter Final Match ups went back to back to back starting at 12 noon. Michigan, Wisconsin and Penn State advanced on this day and Michigan would eventfully end up as Big Ten Champions after they defeated PSU 4-1 in the final. At least the weather in Happy Valley was cooperative and yours truly didn’t have to wear his winter thermals.
Friday November 12, 2010
No rest today as I made the four hour drive to Newark International Airport to catch the 9:30 p.m. flight to Belfast, Northern Ireland. Travel plans were quickly altered when I arrived in Newark and learned of a rescheduled Executive Leadership meeting for Tuesday, November 16. Originally, I was scheduled to watch games in England on Tuesday and Wednesday. So much for the best laid plans of the FCD Technical Director.
Saturday November 13, 2010
A 10:00 a.m. touch down at Aldergrove International Airport and surprise, surprise: it wasn’t raining, but the dampness certainly penetrated. However, they do say, you don’t visit Ireland for the weather and in this case they were right as I immediately set off to meet with the Irish FA’s Coaching Director Nigel Best. Over lunch, Nigel filled me in on the local soccer scene and we prepped for the 3:00 p.m. Glentoran – Dunganon Swifts match at the Oval Ground in East Belfast. It was a disappointing game played in front of deserted terraces and the afternoon proved to be a disaster for home team favorites Glentoran’s league aspirations’ as they were beaten 2-0 by the visiting Swifts. The day was not all negative as I did get a chance to discuss soccer matters with team dignitaries.
Sunday November
14, 2010
“No rest for the wicked” as it was an early morning departure for Dublin and the FAI Cup Final. Dublin is 100 miles south of Belfast and thankfully it was motorway all the way. Considering Ireland is only 300 miles long a Belfast to Dublin trip is viewed as “a hike” by the natives. Still the weather cooperated and the drive proved uneventful with jet lag not a factor as I listened to the Everton – Arsenal English Premiership game on the radio.
The Football Association of Ireland Cup Final kicked-off at 3:30 p.m. and featured west of Ireland side Silgo Rovers against Dublin based Shamrock Rovers. Picking the Rovers to win would have been a safe bet, even for Irish native Drew Keeshan. At any rate, the 36,000 plus crowd was treated to an entertaining match between two evenly matched sides in the newly built Aviva Stadium. For the record, the game ended scoreless after extra time and had to be settled with penalty kicks. The Rovers from Sligo prevailed as their 'keeper stopped four PKs in a row. No doubt the other Rovers know what they have to work on during the off-season. Before you feel too sorry for the Shamrock Rovers, I must tell you that they did win the league championship this year.
The plan had been to meet up with Niall Harrison, the FAI Talent Development Officer but traffic congestion around the stadium scuttled those efforts. I did end up watching the game with Alfie Wylie, the Linfield FC first team coach. Alfie also serves as the Irish FA National U-21 Assistant Coach. With Alfie was Willie McKeown, the Newcastle United Recruitment Officer. Needless to say the conversations were highly productive and enlightening. Stay tuned for possible developments in 2011.
Monday November 15 2010
Since the time difference was 8 hours and Irish television didn’t carry the FCD – Galaxy game that I knew of, I had to rely on text messages from LA for score updates. The late night/early morning vigil was worth it as I believe I woke the neighbors with my celebratory cheers. I have to be honest and say that I had a tough time responding to the wake-up call in order to make the Belfast to Newark return flight. The connecting AA flight from Newark to Dallas got me in after our team had touched down and I enjoyed the warm reception from delighted and proud fans. On behalf of FCD, many thanks to all of you who make the effort to come out and demonstrate your appreciation for the team. It is appreciated.
Next up, Toronto here we come. I am sure there will be a lot of red and white fans at BMO field on November 21. Just remember to pack your thermals as I am sure it will be cold come Sunday’s 7:30 p.m. kick-off. Needless to say I am sure no one will mind the cold when Daniel Hernandez hoists the MLS Trophy over his head.
Until
next time, be safe even if your travels might not take you to Toronto
next weekend,
BG