History Press author David Collins enjoyed a holiday with a difference this year, when he teamed up with a convoy of cars driving across Europe to visit orphanages and children’s homes en route to the Balkans.
David joined a group of other fans who were headed to Macedonia to cheer on Wales in the World Cup Qualifier in Skopje in September. The group represent the charity GOL, who aim to promote a positive image of Welsh football fans abroad and who raise money for worthy causes along the way. They have been active in more than 30 countries since it was set up in 2002, visiting orphanages or children’s home whenever Wales played an away game.
Cars from North and South Wales drove almost 2,000 miles through 10 countries. The marathon trip took them through the Channel Tunnel, across into Belgium (stopping to visit the First World War graves where one lad had a relative buried), then into Luxembourg, across Germany via Bayern Munich’s ground and through the Bavarian Alps into Austria.
Their itinerary took them down the spectacular Dalmatian Coast through Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, before they took a tiny pit stop in Bosnia. Next up was a night in Albania!! before finally reaching their destination in Skopje, where, despite all that, the Welsh team still lost 2-1! The last leg was a six-hour drive into Serbia, where the group met up with a designated local charity. The cars driven by the troupe were donated to the charity and then the boys headed for a 6 a.m. flight back from Belgrade to Luton.
David told us ‘this was a fantastic trip and a great way to see sights and countries that I would not otherwise visit. There were laughs, adventures, beers and bewilderment every step of the way.’
‘We bought a thirteen-year-old silver, 2.5 litre Ford Mondeo for the trip, which we christened Boris after silver-haired Boris Johnson,’ added David.
‘Boris performed heroically on the trip but, even at 125mph on the German autobahns, he was no match for the Ferraris and BMWs who roared past us.’
‘Driving conditions in Albania were even more hairy,’ David added. ‘I would not recommend the traffic jams of Tirana to anyone with a nervous disposition! You don’t know nerves until you have driven in Tirana at Rush Hour!’
Richard Jones, one of the drivers from Penmaenmawr and a veteran of a similar odyssey to Azerbaijan some year ago told THP, ‘the drive was exhausting and exhilarating’ but his fondest memories are of the excitement that was stirred by the children and staff at the orphanages visited along the route. GOL were able to give something to help the children and those who care for them in difficult circumstances in these institutions.
Tim Hartley, who made the trip from South Wales, said ‘We have always been made very welcome when we visit countries across Europe’ and describes how a trip like this a way of saying thank you to the many friends GOL have made across the continent over the years.
David finished off with his favourite story form the whole crazy venture: ‘We met up with a local charity rep in Belgrade at the end of a very weary drive across all kinds of lands. He explained that he had been thinking about what to do with the money from selling a car to the scrap and it had crossed his mind that perhaps the most useful would be to buy a cow for a poor family. "This cow can feed them throughout a year so although it sounds idiotic (I admit) I think that would be the most appropriate way to spend that money" he explained to the weary travellers.’
‘I don’t mind admitting that moistened a few Welsh eyes and brought home to us just what the trip meant,’ explained David. ‘Think about this next time someone moans to you about all football fans being beer-swilling hooligans.’
If this story has touched your heart strings, there is still time to donate to GOL, who will keep on working to support under-privileged children wherever Wales play. You can donate at www.justgiving.com/Rhys-Chester-Hartley or contact David Collins via The History Press.
David Collins is a co-author of Never Mind the Bluebirds, The Ultimate Cardiff City Quiz Book. His second book, Never Mind the Bluebirds 2, Another Ultimate Cardiff City Quiz Book will be released this November.