A later start for match day on Wednesday but still five meals ahead for those athletes among us (did I really say us?). For there was breakfast, then lunch, then pre match, then food organised by the host club TSG Dulmen whilst snacks awaited our return back at base camp. It was a fine morning in this part of the world and after breakfast it was the regular analysis, prep and training especially geared to the ensuing match.
After lunch there was down time giving the chance for the players to rest prior to their exertions in the evening. Whilst they did some of the staff had a go at fishing in the small lake which is alongside this fine property. A few of the staff tried gallantly but unsuccessfully to land even a tiddler with the exception of Simon Royce, a keen fisherman himself, who put everyone to shame by catching a common carp (which was returned to the lake) which he believed to weigh in the region of 15lbs. I know there are a number of keen anglers amongst Bees fans, and they too would have been very impressed. Anyway at least we have the photographic evidence of his catch, so no fanciful fisherman's tales here.
Then it was time for pre-match and onto the coach for the match in Dulmen, about an hour and a quarter from our base here at Klosterpforte. On arrival the weather had changed somewhat and the drizzle persisted for most of the evening. I'm unaware of the official attendance but would guess in the region of 800 people, of which around 100 of that number were Bees fans. It went to emphasise again how brilliant and supportive our fans are. Dulmen, with all due respect, is in the middle of nowhere and about 40 miles north of Dortmund which necessitated a cab ride, both to and from the match for most. That's what you call dedication...and they certainly made themselves known vocally.
The match report can be read elsewhere but it was a real fillip for all to see the likes of Scott Hogan, Andreas Bjelland and Lewis MacLeod start the game after the heartache they suffered last season and to see that young Tom Field continues to show the promise he showed in that final home game of last season. Upon returning back here just prior to 11pm it was time to avail ourselves of a few late night snacks before retiring for the night.
And so to bed.
On arising this morning (Thursday) the sun was up once again before me. It was a late breakfast after last nights late arrival back to base. After breakfast there was an opportunity to take all of the head and shoulder shots required for the forthcoming season and a group shot specifically requested by the owner of this excellent establishment.
Then for the majority of the players it was a recovery session which involved a bit of cycling, some gym work and a football golf session put together by Richard O'Kelly entitled The Klosterpforte Pairs Open. It was a nine hole course dotted around two football pitched separated by a tall dividing fence, with each nine played twice. The holes were actually yellow poles strategically placed at various angles and the "strokes" were the number of attempts before the poles were hit. The twist was that whilst the players were paired up, the scores were recorded individually and at lunchtime a draw to decide who was paired with who, determined the winning pair. The winning pair were Ryan Woods with a very impressive 38, a clear six points ahead of the next best individual scorer (Josh McEachran) and David Bentley with 47.
After lunch, as we approach the end of a very successful training camp, in which the players worked extremely hard thanks to the excellent work of the "off the field team", the players and staff had the chance to enjoy some time to themselves. A number of them took the opportunity to go fishing again, with a measure of success. However it was quite funny to see the excitement which was evident in a couple of the anglers as they thought they could see and track a common carp getting nearer and nearer to the area in which their bait was, only to discover, as it got nearer, that if was in fact a European Pond Turtle native to Germany.
Dinner this evening was a BBQ put on by the hotel staff which was housed in a beautiful country style restaurant outhouse. Albeit with one more day to go it capped off a tremendous week of German hospitality at its best.
I, for one, think this venue can well expect another visit from Brentford Football Club in years to come, and likewise, thanks to the way both the players and staff carried themselves over the past week, I think we have gained a number of new friends/fans in this part of Germany.
And so to bed.