On coach

Here we go! Last leg.

About 20 minutes away.

Landed

Landed at Gatwick.

Through controls and looking for a bus!

Magic moments

What was the best bit?

(Question asked by H)

Answers:

Unbeaten girls team!

Madrid training ground.

Shopping!

Being awarded MoM ...

The Athletico match ...

The five-aside tournament.

Playing at night on a floodlit pitch.

Watching my Real shirt come off the printer.

Signing a shirt for Simon our guide.

The Last Supper

Stacking up on pasta ready for the flight... The food has been excellent.

Flight is currently "on time"

Brambletye Cheerleading

H was last onto the bus and was greater by great applause and the chant ...

"Give me an H" 

"H"

"What does that spell?"

"H"

Brilliant! Thank you Luke!

Lunch

We are in the land of Paella, tapas and glorious jamon, so what was our children's first choice for lunch?

Now off to the shops!

Chez Madrid

Tour of the Bernabeu stadium. 

We met some hopeful new signings outside ...

What a stadium! Please can we have one of these on the New Field? 

Lots of VIPs ...

Lots of statistics ...

Lots of trophies ... 

Lots of mops...

Lots of seats (85,000)...

Players' jacuzzi ... Lots of bubbles ...

Lots of Bale fans ...

Lots of eager subs ...

One angry manager! ...

Lots of hot air ...

Lots of "#awkward" questions for the management! ....

Lots of shopping bags ...

Boys and Men

2nd XI vs Spanish Football Acadamy U13Bs

Lost 9:0 ....BUT this is probably the in the top three U13 teams in Spain. We were tired after a long day including two hours training at Real. These boys could pass any team off the pitch  .... And we kept them to 0:0 for over ten minutes. But then our tiredness showed through and a small collapse occurred and we went in at half time a little broken and 5:0 down. But a half time team talk outlining our route 1 Millwall 80s tactics .... Kick and chase and we started to put them under pressure and make them make mistakes. I am so proud. We battled to end and their coach was impressed at our tenacity. Brilliant. 

1st XI v AMAZING Spanish u13s

Lost lots to nil

This was one of the best teams H had ever seen. Again we were tired and carrying injuries but they could pass Arsenal off the pitch. Our boys battled hard and learned so much. None of our local opposition are in this league. 

Girls lead the way

Girls b Kings' College U16s

Win 15:5

Our technical skill and speed shone through ....

Team talk ...

Enthusiastic support "there's only one Macey!" Der de de de der ... Etc

New BFFs! So totes amazing. Absolutely hilaire....

Match played in great spirit and really great fun for all players ... Still very competitive stuff.

Girls 2. Boys 0 !!!!

Pre match training

Lunch

We got back to find the Spanish Ladies team training...

Lunch is chicken and chips; and risotto and salad!

Training at Madrid

The Real Madrid training facility has 16 pitches. The firsts and seconds were training .... But we did not get to see them even though we had left our vuvuzelas behind. 

Passing practice 

Marta, our medic, patches up a knee. She is also a very talented footballer. 

Jaime our coach liked his little board ...

Possession drills ...

The session ended with a limited game and then a 'normal' one.

Post training ....

Home now for lunch and to watch the girls' match.

Another day in paradise

I have just seen wind speeds of 83.7kph on the school weather station. I hope you are all fine. 

Current weather at Brambletye on the Wunground App. Still the forecast looks better for when we get back.

Just keeping up with world affairs before breakfast ...

Here is the view outside the hotel front door ...

This morning the boys are training with Real (all red and white hats ad scarves are to be hidden) whilst the girls are going to do a little retail therapy (as there was not enough time yesterday) and then do some training for their big match.

Match day 1

After a really sound night's sleep we are up and settling down to breakfast before the boys take on Bocca Juniors ... At their pitch.

Billy's Breakfast

The weather is set to be blue skies, a real difference from the awful weather you are about to have. Stay safe.

Atletico 4, Betis 0

First, we shop.

Then we cheer!

The stadium was big. The two teams were warming up and the fans waited in the warm until the last minute until taking their seats. 

The match begins to a chorus of Brambletye vuvuzelas ...

Atletico score straight from kick off ...

Then it is a fairly average half ...

Half time we stock up on popcorn and threaten to do things to the vuvuzelas!

Second half, Madrid dominate and start to pass and quickly get three more goals. We left 10 minutes early to avoid the crush from the 40+ thousand fans. The green and white corner was very quiet in the second half.

Will have to hide the red and white merchandise when we train with Real tomorrow ... 

Note to certain boys in Year 8 from Madrid: Spain is very cold .., especially in the terraces late at night!