Building partnerships one goal at a time

Photo By Master Sgt. Rachel Waller | Players from Mildenhall Town Football Club in the yellow uniforms, shake hands with players from the RAF Mildenhall soccer team before a match, July 29, 2012 at the MTFC pitch in Mildenhall. The MTFC won the match with a final score of 14-1.  

MILDENHALL, ENG, UNITED KINGDOM

07.29.2012

Story by Senior Airman Rachel Waller 

100th Air Refueling Wing   

MILDENHALL, England - After two months of preparation, the RAF Mildenhall soccer team played against the Mildenhall Town Football Club in a soccer match in the pouring rain July 29 at the MTFC pitch in Mildenhall, England.

The MTFC is a British semi-professional team and the base team consisted of Airmen and their dependents.

“The MTFC approached us and asked if we wanted to play,” said Shane Roten, 100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the player coach. “We were delighted at the challenge, so we accepted.”

Before the game began, players from both sides shook hands. After the pleasantries were exchanged the game began with a kick off.

Three minutes into the first half, the MTFC scored the first of their eight goals in the first half. After a 15-minute halftime, both teams returned to a rain-soaked pitch, ready to play the second half.

MTFC scored three goals to bring to the score 11-0 before the base team answered with a single goal at 78 minutes. After the goal, MTFC scored three more goals, bringing the final score to 14-1 in favor of the home team.

Although, his team lost, the player coach said he enjoyed the game.

“This was a great opportunity to expand our off-base relationships with the local community,” said Roten.

A player from the MTFC agreed the feelings were mutual.

“It was a good game,” said Darryl Coakley, MTFC left back. “It was good playing with the base and I would like to play them again.”

• Date Taken: 07.29.2012
• Date Posted: 07.30.2012 12:11
• Story ID: 92367
• Location: MILDENHALL, ENG, GB