Chris Nash is flying the Barnet Southern League side to the tiny republic to complete his ambition of watching football in all 55 UEFA member countries writes Olly Deed
Intrepid traveller and football fanatic Chris Nash is flying eighth tier football team, Hadley FC, to San Marino to take on AC Juvenes Dogana in a unique friendly that will allow him to “complete the 55”, and watch football in all 55 UEFA member countries.
Chris’s journey started back in 2006 when he watched his first game abroad in Germany, and it has spanned some of Europe’s most unique destinations including Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Kazakhstan, Kosovo and, finally after this match, San Marino.
Hadley fan Chris has spent almost 20 years watching football on the continent having got the bug watching England at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He returned to Germany a few months later to watch Alemannia Aachen take on Jurgen Klopp’s Mainz and from there was hooked.
The friendly between Hadley and AC Juvenes Dogana, will kick off at 6pm on Sunday 9th June at the Stadio Ezio Conte, in the scenic suburb of Dogana.
Opponents AC Juvenes Dogana are currently 8th in the San Marino top flight known as the Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio and competing for a place in the UEFA Conference League. In their history they have won nine Coppa Titanos, the national cup of San Marino, and competed in the UEFA Cup and Europa League qualifiers four times, having most recently been knocked out by Brøndby IF in the first round in the 15/16 season.
The club agreed to host the historic fixture after Chris contacted Adrian Eacock, an Englishman who played for AC Juvenes Dogana, and maintains close links to the club and its popular president Massimo Zavatta.
The fixture will be Hadley Football Club’s first in Europe. The club, based at Brickfield Lane in Barnet, were formed back in 1882, and currently play in the Southern League Division One Central, the eighth tier of English Football. Managed by Anthony Clark, the Bricks finished 8th in league this season, their highest ever finish in the non-league pyramid.
On organising this unique fixtures Chris said: “It is incredible to have the opportunity to complete the 55 by flying a Hadley team to play in our first ever European fixture. Over the years I have had tremendous fun watching football across the continent, which has allowed me to take in some of the most beautiful and rustic parts of Europe.
“Sadly, Hadley’s chances of qualifying for one of the UEFA competitions is quite limited, so this trip was the perfect way to combine my love of travel to quirky countries, with my love for Hadley. San Marino, which is one of the smallest and interesting countries in Europe, seems like a fitting place to finish this journey.
“Whatever happens, it will be a fantastic occasion, and I want to thank everyone at AC Juvenes Dogana and Hadley for making it happen. With our opponents harbouring European ambitions we are probably the underdogs, but I am confident that we can cause an upset.”
FORZA HADLEYYYY!!!!!”
Hadley Chairman, Steve Gray, added: “Despite being formed in 1882, the club has never played in Europe, and, subject to footballing miracles or a Hollywood takeover, this could be our only opportunity to see the Bricks play on the continent.
“Everyone at the club is grateful to Chris for allowing us to be part of his journey to complete the 55, and we extend our gratitude to our new friends at Juvenes Dogana who have helped us make this happen.
“It will be a tough match, but after a fine season in the Southern League, I am confident we can do the job.”
FORZA HADLEY!!!”
A strong Hadley FC supporter contingent, alongside 20 playing and management staff, will arrive in Rimini on 8th June with preparations planned, ahead of the fixture.
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