A trip to Spain for many, signifies a country perfect for relaxation and sunshine – an ideal holiday destination. However, when Tranmere Rovers Centre of Development made the journey to the Costa Blanca, Alicante, in late May, there was no time for rest. The main aim was to compete against other teams around the Spanish region.
Following a long, intense campaign for the different development groups, the annual trip away saw the U19 and U20 Tranmere outfit’s play two games each in the blistering heat throughout the week stay. Alicante City FC, Inter City, Jijona FC and Soccer Smart International Academy were the side’s Rovers pitted their wits against at the Alicante training facility.
The first match of the tour saw the Elite development side face home club Alicante City. In a close contest on the pristine AstroTurf surface, Rovers were narrowly beaten 2-1. The following day, fortunes changed as the development side were victorious against another Spanish team, Jijona FC - in a seven-goal thriller. A 4-3 triumph under the lights was enjoyed by the jubilant Super White Army who were in full voice supporting the team throughout.
In the final two fixtures of the tour, both resulted in score draws in tightly contested matches for the two Tranmere teams. A 2-2 score line for the elite development side versus Inter City and a 1-1 draw for the development XI against Soccer Smart International Academy, marked the end of a successful trip for Rovers’ Centre of Development.