Dutch Exchange
Some years ago Twyford Comets ventured into International competition. A chance conversation between two air traffic controllers at Heathrow and Maastricht in Holland led to the start of an exchange arrangement between Twyford Comets and a Dutch football club, R.K.U.V.C. from Ullestraten a village in Holland near the Belgium border and close to Maastricht. Boys at the under 12/13 age group take part in this exchange which started with the visit of a Dutch team to Twyford in 1981. The following year the same Twyford Comets team made the return trip to Holland and this arrangement has continued to the present day.
During the exchanges the boys go to local sights and stay with host families to learn a little of the British way of life. On the return trip to Holland the Comets children stay with their host families and get to understand a little more about the Dutch culture, language and way of life.
Whilst in the UK, the visiting team are shown around local sites of general or historic interest, there have been visits to Windsor Castle, Thorpe Park, Chelsea and Wembley Stadium tours plus swimming, bowling and watching football games at Reading FC and Rugby games at London Irish. The adults who accompany the touring party are entertained in the evenings with various events such as snooker, race evenings and parties. The visiting team also play several games of football against teams from the local area and other Comets teams. The highlight of the visit is a cup match played between the two U12/13 teams played at Henley Town FC under floodlights followed by the presentation evening. A similar itinerary is put together in Holland when the Comets go over to visit.
The club has a Dutch Committee which organises the whole schedule of both home and away visits but the touring team is expected to raise the necessary funds by organising fund raising events during the year. Originally we obtained sponsorship for this cup from The Twyford Motor Company but since they have left the village various companies and individuals have sponsored it.
Results
1982Â Â RKUVCÂ 1Â Â COMETSÂ 4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1983 COMETSÂ 5Â Â RKUVCÂ 0
1984Â Â RKUVCÂ 0Â Â COMETSÂ 0Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1985 COMETSÂ 2Â Â RKUVCÂ 3
1986Â Â RKUVCÂ 2Â Â COMETSÂ 2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1987 COMETSÂ 3Â Â RKUVCÂ 1
(Comets won on penalties)
1988Â RKUVCÂ 1Â Â Â COMETSÂ 0Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1989 COMETSÂ 5Â Â RKUVCÂ 1
1990Â RKUVCÂ 1Â Â Â COMETSÂ 2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1991 COMETSÂ 0Â Â RKUVCÂ 5
1992Â RKUVCÂ 2Â Â Â COMETSÂ 0Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1993 COMETSÂ 0Â Â RKUVCÂ 3
1994Â RKUVCÂ 4Â Â Â COMETSÂ 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1995 COMETSÂ 2Â Â RKUVCÂ 2
1996Â RKUVCÂ 2Â Â Â COMETSÂ 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1997 COMETSÂ 3Â Â RKUVCÂ 0
1998Â RKUVCÂ 1Â Â Â COMETSÂ 2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1999 COMETSÂ 1Â Â RKUVCÂ 2
2000Â RKUVCÂ 2Â Â Â COMETSÂ 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2001 COMETSÂ 2Â Â RKUVCÂ 4
2002Â RKUVCÂ 2Â Â Â COMETSÂ 3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2003 COMETSÂ 1Â Â RKUVCÂ 6
2004Â RKUVCÂ 3Â Â Â COMETSÂ 0Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2005 COMETSÂ 3Â Â RKUVCÂ 2
2006Â RKUVCÂ 2Â Â Â COMETSÂ 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2007 COMETSÂ 4Â Â RKUVCÂ 1
2008Â RKUVCÂ 0Â Â Â COMETSÂ 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2009 COMETSÂ 6Â Â RKUVCÂ 1
2010Â RKUVCÂ Â 4Â Â Â COMETSÂ Â 5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2011 COMETS 2 RKUVC 3 (aet)
Games played 30Â
COMETS wins 14
RKUVC wins 14
Draws 2
COMETS goals scored 62
RKUVC goals scored 61
There have been 14 home wins and 14 away wins.
In keeping with the spirit of this event, after 30 years it could hardly be more even!