Isle of Man Football Association’s disability team travelled to Reykjavik in Iceland recently to take part in a tournament organised by the host FA.

Teams from across Iceland and also from the Faroe Islands played in the competition, which took place in one of several ’Soccer Houses’ that have been constructed in recent years.

Funded by the civil authorities in the larger cities and towns, the indoor 3G pitches are superb and allow football to be played right throughout the long winter months in perfect conditions. In previous times, the football season was effectively limited to around three months in the summer.

Frank Stennett, Isle of Man FA chief executive travelled with the party as one of the coaching team and commented: ’This was a first-class tournament held in Iceland who, as a nation, have recently moved significantly up the world rankings in international football.

’The football facilities in Reykjavik that we played in were first class and the tournament was extremely well organised by the Iceland FA.

’Alongside the Soccer House, there was a modern IMAX cinema and a state-of-the-art indoor bowling alley, which all made up the civil facilities catering for the whole community. There were also restaurants and a bar for visitors to the complex.’

The IoMFA team comprised of five well-established players, namely captain Tom Hall, Lawrence Dyer, Mark Henry, David Hudson and Benjamin Mowle. New additions to the squad were Liam McCarthy, Mark Dobinson and Jamie Comaish.

Every player contributed so much to the three wins and two draws that resulted in the Manx team winning gold.

Stennett continued: ’The standard of football across the tournament was excellent and all our players were exceptional in every game.

’Captain Tom Hall registered an astonishing personal 11-goal haul and David Hudson was voted the best goalkeeper in the overall tournament by the Iceland FA observers.

’Add in first class performances from the likes of Mark Henry and Ben Mowle, and we really did perform at the highest level over the past four years since the IoMFA started its disability football programme.

’On the Sunday after the game, we were treated to a visit to the world-famous Blue Lagoon and the players were able to enjoy a well-earned restorative dip in the hot geo-thermal spa.

’That was then followed by a visit and tour of the Iceland national football stadium and then on to watch an Icelandic Premier League game.

’Overall this was a really successful football trip to an interesting country. To return home with the winner’s trophy and gold medals for all our players, was such a major bonus and I am very proud, as is everyone at the IoMFA, of all our players.

’Our considerable thanks go to all at Isle of Man Sport who kindly assisted with the travel and accommodation costs and to Paul Callow, in particular, who helped and guided us through the application process.

’Also Steve Hadfield, formerly MD at Paddy Power, and Adrian Higgins at Specsavers Isle of Man who both kindly supported our disability football programme.

’The memories created on this particular trip will personally stay with me for a lifetime. I am sure that will be exactly the same for Mickey Curran (who gives so much to this format of football), IoMFA football development officer Lewis Qualtrough and Beryl Wooldridge from Special Olympics Isle of Man.’

The 2017 disability football programme concludes with the Gareth Cowin Memorial Tournament in Gibraltar to be played at the Victoria Stadium on Saturday, November 4.