Twinning with Pays de Racan
History
Pocklington Town AFC twinning was started 22 years ago when local East Yorkshire bus driver and chairman of the club took a group of students from Woldgate College for an educational visit to Neuvy Le Roi in the Loire valley France. Being the character that he was , staying at the local pub, Geraldines Bar, he got talking to the locals and the first exchange visit was arranged for Easter 1990 which saw 17 Pocklington Town AFC players embark on a trip in a mini bus, Pocklington Town were victorious (check trophy to confirm) . Since then there has been 100s of people from our club take the trip across the channel and enjoyed many happy memories between our club and Pays de Racan.
Recent Trips
The last trip in 2010 saw us celebrate the 20th year of the exchange programme. Following a very long COACH journey and very rough ferry crossing we had 2 days of enjoyable excursions which saw one or two very competitive go-karters (but all escaped injury) and some interesting apple juice pressing you had to be there! Pocklington played some outstanding football and both junior teams won the silverware, the seniors also won even though the French did try to sabotage a few senior team members with alcohol !!!
The Exchange Programme
Trips are coordinated by 2 organisers from each country whose main role is to source host families to provide a home from home basis for their guests to experience the respective countries way of life.
Hosting is just like having friends over to stay, hosts will need to provide bed and breakfast & evening meal and perhaps a packed lunch all visiting children are always housed in at least 2s.
Itineries
Generally an itinerary will be as follows:
- Wed: Guests arrive
- Thurs: Excursion departing at 9am followed by football match
- Fri: Excursion departing at 9am evening free with host families
- Sat: Football coaching followed by 2nd junior football match followed by senior football match and e.g. BBQ
- Sun: Day free with host families followed by departure of our guests