The Harrogate Veterans will fly to Thailand for the third time this May/June to represent their country, playing as England Veterans in the fifth Seniors World Cup. England lifted the trophy last year in Udon Thani, beating Australia one nil in the final and return this year to defend their trophy. This year's tounament is located in Phuket, a city in southern Thailand, some 425 miles as the crow flies from Bangkok.

Fixtures/Results:

Fri 28 May - Warm-Up Match
Bangkok Veterans League XI 0-11 England Veterans
England Scorers: George Woodhouse 3, Simon Deakin 2, Lee Henry 2,
Andy Toman (pen), Ian Simpson, Mark Brady, Nigel Emery

Mon 31 May - Opening Ceremony

Mon 31 May - Group A - Surakul
Thailand Veterans 0-0 Iran Veterans
England Veterans 3-2 Armenia Veterans
England Scorers: Ian Simpson, George Woodhouse, Godwin Douglas

Mon 31 May - Group B - Karon
Australia Veterans 3-0 United States of America Veterans
New Zealand Veterans 0-2 Taiwan Veterans

Tues 1 June - Group A - Surakul
Thailand Veterans 2-2 England Veterans
England Scorer: Simon Deakin 2
Iran Veterans 4-0 Armenia Veterans

Tues 1 June - Group B - Karon
Australia Veterans 2-1 New Zealand Veterans
United States of America Veterans 2-1 Taiwan Veterans

Wed 2 June - Group A
Iran Veterans 4-0 England Veterans
Thailand Veterans 4-1 Armenia Veterans

Wed 2 June - Group B
United States of America Veterans 2-6 New Zealand Veterans
Australia Veterans 3-0 Taiwan Veterans

Thurs 3 June - Rest Day
Football For Kids - Surakul - 09.00
Gala Dinner - 19.00

Fri 4 June - Cup Semi-Finals
M13 - Iran Veterans 5-1 New Zealand Veterans
M14 - Thailand Veterans 0-3 Australia Veterans

Fri 4 June - Plate Semi-Finals
M15 - England Veterans 5-0 United States Veterans
England Scorers: Paul Rowntree 2, Blair Nixon, Rob Turnbull,
Godwin Douglas
M16 - Armenia Veterans 0-1 Taiwan Veterans

Saturday 5 June - Plate Finals
Seventh Place Match - United States Veterans 0-2 Armenia Veterans
Fifth Place Match - England Veterans 3-3 Taiwan Veterans
England Veterans win 5-3 on a penalty shootout
England Scorers: Paul Rowntree, George Woodhouse, Andy Toman
England Penalty Converters: Andy Toman, Mark Brady, Rob Turnbull, Paul Marshall, Ian Simpson

Saturday 5 June - Cup Finals
Third Place Match - New Zealand Veterans 0-3 Thailand Veterans
World Cup Final - Iran Veterans 1-4 Australia Veterans
Australia are World Champions

Final Group Tables:

Group A

Group B

Final Positions:

First Place & World Champions - Australia Veterans
Second Place - Iran Veterans
Third Place - Thailand Veterans
Fourth Place - New Zealand Veterans
Fifth Place & Plate Winners - England Veterans
Sixth Place - Taiwan Veterans
Seventh Place - Armenia Veterans
Eighth Place - United States of America Veterans

England Top Scorers (World Cup Only):

Paul Rowntree - 3
George Woodhouse - 2
Godwin Douglas - 2
Simon Deakin - 2
Andy Toman - 2 (1 pen)
Ian Simpson - 2 (1 pen)
Rob Turnbull - 2 (1 pen)
Blair Nixon - 1
Mark Brady - 1 (1 pen)
Paul Marshall - 1 (1 pen)

Reports from England Manager Paul Bell:

Sun 30 May
"Harrogate Veterans, representing England in this years Seniors World Cup in Thailand, won their warm up match against a Bangkok Veterans League X1 on Friday evening 11-0. Leading 4-0 at half time through goals from Andy Toman (penalty), Ian Simpson and debutant goals from Simon Deakin and George Woodhouse, the English team turned on the style in the second half with Woodhouse completing a hatrick, Deakin adding another, and further goals Lee Henry (2), Mark Brady and Nigel Emery.

On Saturday the squad had a three hour training session in the afternoon sun with temperatures reaching 30°C - the team have two 4pm kick offs in their group and this was a reminder of the conditions they may have to face.

Afterwards the squad put in an appearance at the Bangkok Chamber of Commerce International 7's tournament - where they received good luck wishes from former England internationals Lee Sharpe, Steve McMahon and Viv Anderson, as well as welsh legend Ian Rush. (see picture in images section).

Today (Sunday) the squad fly from Bangkok to Phuket and their tournament base at Karon Beach. On route they will be getting their first look at Sakarol Stadium in Phuket Town. The stadium is often used for Thailand's International games and all the England group games will be staged there.

England's opening game will be against Armenia tomorrow at 6pm (12 noon UK time)."

Tues 1 June (Match versus Armenia Veterans, Mon 31 May)
"An injury time winner by 89th minute substitute Godwin Douglas gave the England Veterans a 3-2 victory over a talented Armenia Veterans team in the Sukrukal Stadium, Phuket last night. Ian Simpson had carried on where he finished last year's tournament by heading in an Andy Toman corner in the 17th minute. The English continued to create the better chances and George Woodhouse twice went close before Paul Rowntree had a goal disallowed for a harsh infringement given against Simpson. Armenia made an immediate response after the break when keeper Hogg made a good save only to see the follow up go past him. Substitute Simon Deakin saw a goal ruled out for offside before Rowntree's cross was headed in at the far post by Woodhouse to restore the lead. Deakin's pace twice got him into good position's only to see one shot cleared off the line and the other one tipped away be the keeper. Those looked as they might be costly as Armenia's persistence earnt them a second equaliser 5 minutes from the end. Manager Bell's last throw of the dice was to send on Douglas who with his first ouch drilled in a low shot form the edge of the box. With Thailand and Iran playing out a 0-0 draw earlier in the evening, the victory took England to the top of Group One. Boroughbridge's Alaister Hogg captained England for the game.

Next up is Thailand on Tuesday at 4pm (10am UK time)."

Tues 1 June (Match versus Thailand Veterans, Tues 1 June)
"The England Seniors team, represented by Harrogate Veterans FC held the hosts Thailand to a 2-2 draw in their Group A match played in the blazing afternoon sun at Sukarul Stadium, Phuket. However, qualification for the semi finals must wait as two controversial decisions robbed them of a memorable victory. Now the English must beat Iran in the final group game tomorrow to ensure they make it through to the final four.

Simon Deakin's 12th minute goal was cancelled out 8 minutes later, but England looked to have gone back in front just before the interval when George Woodhouse dived to head in a John Deacey cross only for the goal to be flagged offside. Television pictures later showed Woodhouse to be onside.

In the intense heat, several substitutions had to be made, as the players felt the effect of two hard games in two days - but England deservedly retook the lead in the 56th minute. Deakin, who moments earlier had seen a fine volley again ruled out for offside, latched onto a Mark Brady through ball to round the advancing keeper and slip the ball into the net.

Despite a couple of scares and one fine save from Hogg, England looked to be comfortable as Thailand pressed and pressed - but inexplicably the US referee gave a handball against Graham Bootland when he brought the ball down on his knee and Thailand converted the resultant kick to keep their own hopes of qualifying alive.

Iran beat Armenia 4-0 in the other group game."

Thurs 3 June (Match versus Iran Veterans, Wed 2 June)
"Harrogate Veteran's brave effort to emulate last year's achievement in the Seniors World Cup came to an end in the blazing afternoon sun in Phuket yesterday, with a defeat against an Iran team that included 6 ex internationals.

The team, representing England in the competition, had gone in to the final game of the "group of death" knowing that only a win over Iran would take them into the semi finals whilst their experienced opponents who had yet to concede a goal, knew a draw would ensure their own progression.

The English had been nine minutes away from securing a semi final place in their second group game against Thailand - when a highly controversial penalty allowed the host nation to equalize. Therefore instead of resting key players, manager Paul Bell had to subject many of his players to a second successive 4pm kick off in temperatures of over 30 degrees celcius.

For the first 15 minutes the game plan of attacking the Iranians with pace down both flanks troubled the ex professional team as half chances fell to John Deacey and George Woodhouse, the latter's shot producing what was to turn out to be a crucial save from the keeper.

However, against the run of play the Iranians scored when three of the England defenders all stepped forward with arms raised for an offside decision that didn't come.

Knowing that England now had to score twice against a defence that contained three internationals with over 200 caps between them and the national team's goalkeeping coach between the posts, the Iranians sat deep and showed their experience in keeping the ball. In the stifeling heat, the impact of three games in as many days, in those conditions, started to tell on the legs of the english. A minute before half time, with England replacing two injured defenders, Iran took advantage to score with a close range header from a free kick."

Bell also added the following of the feelings of his team:

"The team was physically shattered at half time and we had to start making further changes" said manager Bell "However having to chase the game was always going to leave us exposed and 12 minutes into the second period Iran broke out to clinically execute only their third chance to finish off English hopes.

"We came with a strong squad and high expectations and made a good start, but a combination of injuries and our early kick off times caught up with us in our final group game" said Bell "However, that is taking nothing away from Iran, who were an outstanding team and deserved to win the group"

"Whilst we are hugely disappointed, we have gone up against three countries which have brought teams of ex professionals and many ex internationals and have only lost once in what by far the toughest group, containing three of last year's semi finalist's"

Mon 7 June (Match versus Taiwan Veterans, Sat 5 June)
"Harrogate Veterans flew back into the country today bringing home a cup for England from their latest Seniors World Cup adventure, but unfortunately it was not the one they had hoped to win. The England team narrowly missed out on a semi final place but went on to win the newly formed Shield competition for the non semi finalists.

After beating the USA 5-0 with goals from Blair Nixon, Paul Rowntree (2), Rob Turnbull and Godwin Douglas, England faced the Taiwan National veteran team, who had given them such a rude awakening to Seniors World Cup football two years ago, in the final at Karon Stadium on saturday. After the difficulties of playing in the afternoon sun earlier in the week, the English suddenly found themselves back in more familiar conditions as heavy tropical rain suddenly made the conditions for the evening final more suited to the English. However Taiwan took the lead with an incredible 65 yard free kick that Billy Kung struck from his own half and over the head of a stranded Alaister Hogg. For the fourth time in the week, England were denied a goal by a linesman's flag as George Woodhouse was ruled offside, but five minutes before the break, England's pressure paid off as Paul Rowntree forced in the ball from Andy Toman's corner. The heavy pitch should have proved difficult for the nimble Taiwan team but three minutes later Chen Jiunn-Ming skillfully eluded three challenges to place the ball past Hogg.

Shortly after the halftime break, it all looked to be going wrong for the English as Huang Che-Ming broke away to net a third. However, as manager Bell made changes, bringing on Nixon, Douglas, Brady & Marshall - the fresh legs aided a remakable comeback with Woodhouse pulling one back in the 57th minute and then with the English virtually camped in the Taiwan half, Toman placed an angled shot into the net for the equaliser. Godwin Douglas looked to have scored a spectacular winner with a mazy dribble and a shot destined for the top corner until keeper Tsai tipped it away to ensure the game finished 3-3.

The Harrogate based team don't have the best record in penalty shootouts back home, but on foreign soil they have yet to miss one and once 'keeper Hogg had saved Taiwan's first kick, Toman, Brady, Turnbull, Marshall and Simpson all converted to ensure England could return home on a successful note.

In fact, the squad went home with two cups - as the SWC comittee also gave them a replica of the World Cup they won last year, to keep permanently. Additionally defender Graham Bootland was also named in the SWC All Star Team for the tournament."

Bell added the following:

"We played five games in six days in difficult conditions against countries that were all represented by former professional players and several ex internationals and we only lost the one game" said manager Bell "so we can be proud of what we have achieved. It also puts into context just what we managed to achieve last year - but things did go well for us in terms of being injury free, the weather and the scheduling - whereas it was the opposite this year."

"Also, the other teams are coming back stronger and will continue to do so - Iran for instance, as well as as increasing the number of ex internationals, had been training and playing weekly to prepare for the tournament - it means that much. Likewise Australia, who beat Iran in the main final this year, had actively gone out to recruit quality ex pros. If we are lucky enough to be invited back next year, the bar is likely to be raised yet again and we will have to plan and prepare accordingly."

Provisional England Veterans Squad:

Links:

Articles and news regarding this year's competition can be found by following the below links.

FISA - Seniors World Cup Official Website
Facebook - Seniors World Cup
Phuket Gazette - Phuket To Host Seniors World Cup
Phuket Index - 5th Seniors World Cup Tournament Kicked Off In Phuket
Phuket Observer - Seniors Soccer Stars Takes One More Stab At World Cup
Phuket Gazette - Seniors World Cup Semi-Final Matches in Phuket Today
Phuket Gazette - Aus vs Iran in Phuket SeniorsWorld Cup Final
Phuket Observer - Thai Clobber NZ to take 3rd in Senior World Cup

Pictures & Images:

All pictures and images can be enlarged by clicking on them.

This year's tournament logo

The event poster

The Surakul Venue

The England team with former England Internationals Lee Sharpe, Steve McMahon and Viv Anderson and Welsh Legend Ian Rush

The national anthem is played before the Armenia match

After the Taiwan match with their trophies

With thanks to Paul Bell for the bottom three images.