A bus company has come to the rescue of devastated youngsters after learning their hopes of attending a European football festival were in tatters.
Thirty-five footballers with Renfrew Victoria Football Club – aged between 11 and 15 – this morning arrived in Amsterdam to compete in the Arnhem Bridge Cup thanks to the efforts of Marbill Coaches and DFDS Ferries.
The bus company from Beith, North Ayrshire, and ferry operator stepped in when the heartbroken players learned their booking for a KLM flight, due to depart Glasgow Airport today, had been cancelled.
The children – together with coaches, parents and grandparents – had spent hundreds of pounds to attend their first European event over the weekend.
But the Dutch airline cancelled their booking with only days notice – and with a party of 83 on board, the airline was unable to find them an alternative flight.
A scramble to look at alternatives saw the club secure an overnight ferry from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with Marbill Coaches committing to getting the group to the dock on time.
Alan Swain, a coach with Renfrew Victoria, explained: “What transpired on Monday, four days before we were due to leave, is the flight they had put us on had been changed from a bigger plane to a city hopper and that our booking, with 83 people, had been cancelled and we couldn’t be put on another flight due to the size of the party.
“We tried other airports but there was no availability even if we broke the group up. One option was to go by ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam and get the bus through.
“We then contacted 35 bus companies and all but one said there was no chance. That company was Marbill Buses.
“I spoke to their CEO and she said we are aware of the work that the charity does, we will make sure we have a bus available.
“None of it would have been possible without them so we are very grateful to both her and the very helpful lady at DFDS who got us booked on the boat.”
He added: “There has been a lot of stress and tears, particularly for the parents. I held off on telling my kids – they would have been so disappointed. I’m just glad we managed to get there.”
The overnight ferry meant the team had to leave yesterday, and while 10 people were unable to make the ferry, the club’s travel agent managed to book them on to flights.
Alan says the entire team is now looking forward to enjoying the four-day football adventure.
Their first international contest will see more than 60 teams compete in a series of matches before an overall winner is chosen. Renfrew is entering two teams; its Under-12s and Under-15s.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for these youngsters,” Alan said, “they have never taken part in anything of this
magnitude.
“This an opportunity to travel abroad, to gain some life experience and widen their view of different cultures. These sorts of things are of massive benefit to our young people.”
He added: “The kids have been preparing for this for six or seven months and part of that includes training as a team.
“We have also held fundraisers, secured £3,500 from Renfrewshire Council and had sponsored walks and runs so there has been a whole host of events to make this happen.”
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