Everyone in Ventnor has heard of The Bees, but you might not be aware of another group called the Bees who are also from Ventnor. They are our beach soccer team and have just managed to take the title of champions in the UK Beach Soccer Premiership for the third consecutive year. We asked GP Giancovich, the team’s manager and player to write a piece for the blog, and being the lovely chap he is, he obliged.
For anyone unfamiliar with beach soccer, it is 5-a-side football played on the sand and luckily Appley beach in Ryde on the Isle of Wight has plenty. Each team can have 5 rolling subs and the game lasts 3 periods of 12 mins. In the case of a draw there is sudden death penalties. The sport is nearly non contact which encourages entertaining skill and flair — Brazil style.
There are 3 leagues on the island and the Bees are the champions. In 2002 we started in the 2nd division and won without losing a game. We came 2nd in our first year in the Premiership and won it in 2004, 2005 and now in 2006.
For the past 3 – 4 seasons the Bees have dominated beach soccer and become the most successful beach soccer team in the UK. Without losing a game in well over a year in the league and uk tournaments, the Bees boast 7 England players, the Isle of Wight captain and other quality island players. This has earnt them invites to European tournaments where they have beaten the likes of Germany and Poland.
Linked to the band The Bees are Itchy Parkin (sax), Paul Butler (lead vocals etc), Steve Colley (sound man), Gianpaolo (video) and N8th who raps with Blankbeats. Regrettably some have been too busy to play, but have scored some memorable goals and missed some historical penalties in past seasons.
Read Sean Rann’s review of the games held on 15th and 16th July.
