Amateur football team to make unforgettable memories with Netherlands cup game trip

The manager of an amateur football team hopes an exciting trip to the Netherlands will give his young players “memories to last a lifetime.”

Chris Anderson, team manager of East Kilbride’s Claremont AFC 2011s, is taking his impressive squad to Rotterdam this May to compete in the Dutch Silver Cup.

In a bid to keep the boys interested in sport, boost team morale and celebrate recent successes, Chris hopes the trip will be unforgettable for his young ballers.

(Image: Chris Anderson, manager of the Claremont 2011s. Pictures taken by Colin Mearns, Newsquest.) “This trip will give the boys memories that will last a lifetime,” Chris told the Glasgow Times.

He added: “I hope they are memories that will never go away, and the trip is something they never forget.

“The boys are getting to the age now where they drift away for sports, and we want to morale up and to keep them in the game.

“We also want to give them something to look forward to, which helps with mental health, and to celebrate the team’s recent wins.”

(Image: Pictures taken by Colin Mearns, Newsquest.) Claremont AFC 2011s were the East Renfrewshire Soccer Development Association (ERSDA) League Apertura Champions in 2023/24 and ERSDA Division One Bowl Champions in 2023/24 too. They have since been promoted to the Central Lanarkshire Youth Football Association (CLYFA) League.

The team is currently sitting in the middle of the table but is fighting hard for their spot at the top.

(Image: Pictures taken by Colin Mearns, Newsquest.) The upcoming trip will be the first time the squad has been abroad together, and when they heard the news, the boys went crazy.

Chris said: “We’ve got a group of about 18/19 boys going and when I told them they just went ballistic.

“They are so excited and really looking forward to it.”

He added: “I just like to do these things for the boys.”

(Image: Pictures taken by Colin Mearns, Newsquest.)

(Image: Pictures taken by Colin Mearns, Newsquest.) In order to make the trip entirely free for the boys, Chris has hosted a couple of fundraisers to fund the trip.

Having so far raised over £9k, the group will be hosting a race night at the end of the month for one final push to reach the full cost of the trip. They have around £3k to go.

The event will take place at The Royal British Legion in East Kilbride on January 31.

Starting at 7pm, it will include mock horse races, as well as a raffle and an auction. According to Chris, the evening promises to be a fun night with a great atmosphere.

Chris added: “We know it is hard times, and we just didn’t want parents having to pay for their kids to come along on this trip.

“Our thought process was that we would pay for the boys and if parents want to come, they can pay their way.

“We have a few parents and younger siblings coming. It will be great.”

(Image: Pictures taken by Colin Mearns, Newsquest.) For more information on Claremont 2011s or the race night, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091065662331