To Tanzania and Finland
10 May 2007
They travel together from Newcastle to play for Blyth but soon they’ll be travelling separately – and further.
To Tanzania and Finland to be exact!
Spartans striker Robbie Dale has been chosen to play for Middlesex Wanderers on their tour of Tanzania next month. The Wanderers were established in 1905 with the vision of establishing a touring soccer club which promoted goodwill through “the beautiful game” to a number of countries in Europe. As standards improved in Europe the Wanderers looked further afield and tours were undertaken to Japan and Africa in the 1960s and 70s. In recent years tours have been undertaken to Vietnam, Indonesia and The Gambia. Players are invited to take part and are chosen from senior Non League football.
Dale’s colleague, goalkeeper Adam Bartlett, has been selected to join the England National Game squad. This squad is effectively the former England Semi Professional eleven. 21-year-old Bartlett is in the National Game Under 23 squad for an international, which takes place in Helsinki in June.
“I’m very excited about the prospect of playing there in the Olympic Stadium,” he said.
He is also in the contingency group for the “open age” National Game squad for the forthcoming Four Nations Tournament to be held in Scotland which will feature the host nation, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as England.
“It’s especially pleasing to be in this squad as I am the only player in it from outside the full Conference” he commented. “The other keepers are from Rushden and Diamonds, Aldershot and Oxford United so I might be pushed to get a game and my main chance, realistically, lies with the Under 23s.”
The Blyth keeper has attracted a lot of attention following convincing displays this season. He has been on trial at Blackpool and Hartlepool as well as travelling to Vancouver.
However, with a good job at Newcastle United’s Academy where he coaches the under 18s and the 9-16 year olds, it will take a special offer to tempt him away from Croft Park.
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