Bermuda 1 England C 6

I didn’t get the chance to go along to the National Stadium last night, but fellow Addick @Bermuda_Red did and this what he had to say:

“6-1 to England. Glad I went, nice evening to sit and watch a game – good atmosphere. At the start I wasn’t sure who I wanted to win, but left at the end feeling good about an excellent performance by England C – well executed simple but fast passing game, lots of movement off the ball – more fun than watching the “A” team – that said the Bermuda team would make a lot of other teams look good. In fairness to Bermuda it wasn’t their first team either. Nahki Wells wasn’t playing and others missed out also. Jonte Smith was the standout Bermudian – he plays for Crawley Town. Maybe 2,000 attendence. Bigger than expected – which included at least 3 Charlton fans.”

The Royal Gazette report highlighted the difference in class, despite England’s ‘C’ team being made up of non-league players some like the two Welling United boys Anthony Acheampong and Fraser Franks having amateur status playing in the either the North and South Conferences this past season.

Eastbourne-born Paul Norwood, who plays for Forest Green, grabbed the headlines scoring a second half hat-trick on his England debut.

Footballers don’t always get the best press, but a couple of people I know who were involved with the tour were very complimentary about the England boy’s behaviour and commitment and the way they played last night, they obviously didn’t just come for the rum swizzles. It was by the way, the first ever appearance by an English football team in Bermuda.

On a personal note John Barry Nusum scored Bermuda’s goal and his Mum, who worked in our office up until the day before she succumbed to a long fight against cancer in January would have been a very, very proud lady.

Bermuda’s National Team are next in action at the Natwest Island Games which are hosted on the island in July.