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Group A and the Swedish football association welcomed the arrival of the GB Lions with open arms.
GB were scheduled to play the Germans on Thursday 29th with the winners going on to play the Gold Final on the Saturday and the losers meeting for the Bronze award.
The week started with the Coaches meeting at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre on Saturday 23rd with the 45 players arriving on the Sunday. Preparations went well for the GB squad as players settled in and game plans were drawn up and practiced.
The staff was completed by the early arrival of new physiotherapists Matt Taylor and Alison Latham. Throughout the week the medical staff were to prove an excellent addition to the team as the Lions did not lose a single player to injury until late in the 4th quarter of the second game. “I am indebted to the skill and professionalism of Matt and Alison” said Head Coach Tariq Ayub. “My heartfelt thanks go to them”.
Wednesday was travelling day as the team bussed to Heathrow and flew to Copenhagen. A short bus trip later and the team was installed in their hotel in central Malmö.
Training was held on Wednesday afternoon as final preparations were realised. The GB team went into Thursday, game day, confident and ready for the old enemy match report
After the game the squad was understandably disappointed but the truth was that the Germans were faster and better drilled. The squad was determined to pull together and make a better showing of things in the Bronze match against the Finland, who had lost their first game to Sweden 23-19.
With only one day of rest between the two games readjustments were vital and the GB coaching squad re-established Special Teams to bring in lesser used players from the first game. match report
BAFRA Officials Mike Wylde and Steve Tomkinson represented Great Britain in the final. Mike was officiating his last game after serving football for nearly 20 years.
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