Members of Lower Maze FC set off on a weekend break to Sunderland recently, that proved to be a great weekend for the boys.

The under 11 and under 12 teams, along with coaches and parents enjoyed an eventful weekend.

After a long journey that started in the early hours of the friday morning from the Lisburn Omniplex the Lower Maze party arrived in Sunderland in the evening and after dinner in their hotel they where met by a member of Rhyhope CW FC .

Rhyhope CW FC where formed by the collier workers in Sunderland in the 1890s and are the second oldest established club in Sunderland , behind only Sunderland themselves. Rhyhope made the Maze boys very welcome at their clubhouse on the friday evening .

 

The Saturday morning was to see Lower Maze play Rhyhope CW in two friendly matches , and Rhyhope had managed to arrange for these to be played on Sunderlands very own Stadium of Light Academy pitches . A venue even the Rhyhope boys have never had the privalge to play on.

 

After the games it was all back to Rhyhope's Clubhouse where they had kindly laid on refreshments and lunch for the Maze boys . Trophies where handed out to the man of the match for each team in each match , with Rhyhopes coaches and parents picking who they thought was Lower Mazes player of the day , with Taylor Lee Bradley recieving the under 11 award , Pierce Hughes the under 12and Josh Gibson for the Penalty kicks, as well as man of the match trophies  Lower Maze presented the Sunderland man of the match with Northern Ireland shirts .

 

The boys then enjoyed the atmosphere of the Premier league match of Sunderland against Burnley at the Stadium of Light , Many of the excited boys stayed around with the coaches at the end of the game and where able to get autographs and photos with most of the players including England forward Darren Bent , Fraizer Campbell, Kweyne Jones , Chris Eagles , and many more.

 

On Sunday the boys travelled to Newcastle for a tour of the magnificent St. James Park before the long journey home. Many friends have been made on the trip and it is hope this is the start of a good relationship and connection between Lower Maze and Rhyhope CW.

 

The Coaches of Lower Maze would like to thank all at Rhyhope for their great hospitality, Colin Edgar Contracts for sponsoring the boys hoodie tops and the boys of Lower Maze for there excellent behaviour and conduct throughout the weekend. And a special thanks to Uel and Lucy Faulkner for all the work they put in to organising the trip.