Tamisha Marshall & Renaldo Hunte at Arsenal FC

on August 6th, 2013 in News by The Brewster Trust

THE BREWSTER TRUST, Barbados

Tamisha Marshall and Renaldo Hunte have been awarded most outstanding participants “Coaching the coaches” at the Holiday Camp 2012. The two local coaches got an invitation to the Arsenal Gap Year programme 2013/2014 for one month including accommodation in England as well as travel cost. Their programme started on Monday, 5th August 2013 and they return to Barbados on Saturday, 31st August 2013. Here we collect the impressions Tami and Renaldo sent us from London:

Departure
Friday, 2nd August 2013, 4.40pm, BA2154 with an arrival at Gatwick the next day at 5.45am. Renaldo stated after his arrival in London: “Thank you so much for the opportunity to be here this year at the arsenal gap program.me an tami arrive this morning an this taxi guy bob picked us up and showed us around london on our way here at chester’s house. then people are nice an friendly an I’m happy thanks to you for this wonder opportunity to be here”.

8th August 2013
Renaldo reports: … just can’t say thank you enough!! I’m really enjoying it here and Chester House staff is very nice. When down to the Emirates today we saw Arsenal practice then went to there little Q&A room conference, it was very funny and some people asked some hilarious questions. I enjoyed it there today.

10th August 2013
Tamisha reports: I want to thank everyone from the Brewster Trust for this opportunity, you save my potential and i plan on doing well here. The flight was long but good. We had a hard time coming through Customs’ but obviously we got through. As soon as the doors opened to go outside, the wind that hit us just ruined me instantly. The taxi driver, Bob, was really nice to take us on a tour before taking us to the Chester House, we saw the London Eye, the tallest building in London and Waterloo Station which i said made me think of a bathroom. Bob took us the long way but it was a good drive. After an hour and some we arrived at the Chester House and had to wait outside in the freezing cold. When we finally got inside we had to wait on the lady because she was having breakfast, she came like 10 minutes later. We got our keys, maps and headed upstairs. When we got settled we went for a walk (it was freezing), decided to go back and get some sleep. The next day Paul came to visit me, i was so happy he came and spent 2 hours with me. We played pool (i’m no good) for a little while then talked the rest of the evening. When he left i went to the meeting with the other gappers, Laura, Evan, Ali, Mark, Greyson and Adam.
The first week went well to start, a bit cold but it went well. I get along well with the Gappers at the Chester House and i even met loads of other people staying here, from Spain, Ireland, China and even Russia. I was a little home sick at the start of the week but as i got to know everyone they made me feel better and not miss home anymore. There is actually sun, lots of sun. Every time i’m cold i just pray the clouds don’t cover the sun.
On Monday we went to the Arsenal stadium for the introduction to the course. None of us from the Chester House knew the location of the stadium so we had to get off the bus and start walking. I have never in my life walked that fast and at that speed, if i had stopped for one minute i know i wasn’t going to move again. We got there first with time to waste so they really could have slowed down. Sam Ingram came to visit us after we finished the day at Arsenal and we also saw Tony. I did nothing when i got back to my room but sleep.
The second day of the program and we were at a field called St. Aloysius We walked to the field and it was about 40 minutes away from the Chester House, surprisingly I wasn’t that tired. The day started off a little cold and I don’t know why but I wasn’t feeling well at all but I still participated for a good while till I couldn’t anymore. Today was simply some basic warm-up drills and fun games to get us active and ready for the day. John took the session and he’s really is a good coach and always there to encourage us throughout. Funny thing that happened today, during the drill we were playing a kick-up game and I actually won against the boys, thumbs up for me because I thought I wasn’t that good at kick-ups.
At lunch time we went inside, I found a corner and just curled up into it and tried to rest a little but ended up feeling worst when everyone started eating, the smell of food just made me want to throw up. By the end of lunch I had went out and got some fresh air and the sun was hot and I just felt better instantly. We came back out and we continued with another drill but I sat out and took my notes. Because we were tired after the session we caught the bus back to the House.
On Wednesday, Tony took the session for John, apparently John told him we were fit and Tony worked us hard. However, it was a great session, cold, but a great session. It finished at one so the Chester House group decide we would go to Tesco and get some stuff we needed. We asked for directions to the Tesco and the gentleman told us “it’s close”, so we decided to walk. The Tesco was not close at all, Renaldo who thinks he knows it all made us walk a little further than we had to even though he had a map which he wouldn’t use. We all had to walk back since none of us brought our bus passes. We walked back, had dinner and some of us stayed up to watch Real Madrid vs Chelsea game at 2.
Thursday was Members’ Day at the Arsenal stadium and the Arsenal Gappers were volunteers to hand out flyers to the fans as they came in. The gappers were to meet John at the Arsenal letters at 9:30, the persons coming from the Chester House were almost late because Renaldo wanted to stay up late and watch the Real Madrid vs. Chelsea game which started at 2 am. When I went to breakfast after I got ready, I didn’t see Renaldo so I decided to go see if he was ready, instead he was in bed and it was 8:15 and we were leaving at 8:30. Mark (another gapper) was so worried we were going to be late he couldn’t stop shaking; I thought he was going to have a fit. Luckily, Renaldo came down in time so we could get the bus and we there just in time. I felt really bad for Mark because he broke his glasses that morning and he supports Arsenal and he couldn’t wait to see them, he even went to bed early the night before. Renaldo acted like it was fine to wake up late and made us have to rush. i just couldn’t talk to him the rest of that day for being so inconsiderate and immature. Members Day was great however, we saw the first team train. They had a match against about 30 Junior Gunners and Gunnersaurus was JG goal keeper. The game was hilarious, the arsenal team cheated alot but the JG won the game 4-3. Walcott kicked balls into the crowd and then we all went upstairs for an hour long Q&A.
The last day started at 8:30 and finished at 12. I guess Renaldo learnt his lesson because he got ready on time and even had breakfast. Because the rain was falling a bit we caught the bus but Ali walked, i think he’s trying to get fit, so he left before us but the bus caught up to him and we all walked to the pitch together. John did a dribble session, it was a lot of fun to do and we played small sided games. That evening we had to go to a football tournament, i didn’t play because Ali had hurt my foot the morning. When we arrived met Jack (i can’t remember which Jack he was, to many) and we helped set up the pitches for 5 a-side games. We placed second in the tournament but that was good enough for us since we have only known each other for a week and the team that beat us were really good youngsters. Since we couldn’t get back to Chester House in time for dinner, we stopped off for some food and walked home.
The night didn’t end as well as i had hoped when Mark and Renaldo had little disagreement after a discussion we were all having. When Mark left the room upset i just felt awful because he was a little down all day and the disagreement just made it worst.
I’m kind of afraid our little Chester House group will get split in two because everyone was just beginning to get a long and i was hoping to have long friendships with everyone but we’ll see how everyone gets on next week, hopefully better. Next week we have the FA Level 1 course to do, wish me luck, don’t think i’ll need it though.

12th August 2013
Tamisha reports: We began our FA Level 1 at the IAMS School with our assessor Matt Tallon. He is a nice, funny old man who always made fun of my colored socks. The indoor sessions weren’t boring at all, he told lots of stories that eventually led away from the topic we were addressing. We took in loads of information this week. We spoke about abuse and how to handle the issues if they ever came up. The areas that he was really passionate talking about was special needs and disabilities football, he doesn’t excluded them from playing at all. We had a mock assessment on Wednesday to allow us to know what we had to do to pass. As usual my voice was the issue but for the actual assessment i spoke up and passed. We did our Safe Guarding and First Aid as well this week. The First Aid session was very funny at one point because our assessor made us do the chest compressions to the rhythm of a song called Staying Alive by Bee Gees. It was hilarious.
On Thursday i woke up late and had rush to get to the school, got there 5 mins late. Renaldo had texted my phone during the night, woke me up from a very nice sleep and i couldn’t get back to sleep till about 4am. That morning i woke to a knocking on my door and it was none other than Renaldo asking if i’m not going to the session and if i wanted him to wait for me, i said no so he wouldn’t be late also but he did wait. I was so angry all the way to the school i didn’t speak to him and i thought i was going to fail because i was late but Matt told me it was ok and not to worry but i cried a little anyway. That day I got involved in most of the sessions to feel better while playing football and it really helped.
Arsenal’s first match was on Saturday and the Chester House group got free tickets to go watch it. We had tickets for the box level and it was really cool. It was my first ever live Premier League match so i was excited. The atmosphere at Arsenal was a bit down but i still enjoyed my evening except for when Renaldo would come with some random question to disturb me.
For me the week was good but sometimes when i missed home a bit to much i would distance myself from the group to make myself comfortable which i think is wrong but helps. I really do enjoy their company though especially Laura’s because she’s the only other girl in the group at Chester House. I try to help everyone when they ask for my help during the course because somehow they think i know a lot which is funny because i thought they knew more. The boys do make me feel included and comfortable at all times. I can’t wait to get back home and see everyone.

15th August 2013
Renaldo reports: … I’m having a great week so far, I am most sure I have passed my level 1 but awaiting the result tomorrow. Did the first aid yesterday and it was fun and level 1 exam was today. It was a really good week with tutor Matt Tallon he’s a very funny guy to be around always have a joke to shear an keeps all of us smiling … Just saying thanks to you and everyone who made this journey a success and a dream come true. The quality at Chester House is amazing …

17th August 2013
Renaldo reports: … completed my level1 yesterday and I’m extra happy about the accomplishment … went to Arsenal vs Villa 1-3 today, the atmosphere was fantastic, it really was nice being there in a wonderful stadium …

19th August 2013
This week John was back and we were also back at St. Aloyisious field for our sessions once again. On Monday John took us through a session of warm-up drills and told us that our evening session would be took by Alan. He warned us that Alan would done a lot more talking than he does but we had no idea how much. Renaldo volunteered to do the warm up for Alan’s session and he did a very poor job at it, i tried to give him tips but he didn’t want to listen or take them. It was almost like he didn’t try. Aaron, one of the other Gappers asked me if that’s the way warm-ups are done in Barbados, all i could do was place my face into my palms and say no. Alan got there late so we went on till 3:30 that evening. The group walked back home, i was exhausted.
On Tuesday we had to meet John at the Red Zone of the Arsenal stadium, by the Tony Adams statue. We would be doing a class session in the Arsenal museum where we would have to do a session on the computer in pairs. So now i can plan a session on the computer and print it out to keep it on hard copy and store it in my pack. My partner was from Israel and his english isn’t so good so it was a little difficult communicating with him but we got through it with a bit of help from John. We had to make our way back to St. Aloyisious and Renaldo decided to be “smart” and go shopping and got back late. Some of us had to do our planned sessions, Tomer (i think i spelt it wrong) and I had to do it and ours went really well and everyone seemed to enjoy it so i was happy.
The next day we were at the field again and the weather was lovely. Obviously i brought the sun to England and i quite enjoyed it because I’m always cold. The others that didn’t do their session had to do theirs. John gave loads of feedback which really helps me so i guess next summer if i do come to camp i should be coaching pretty well. I was a bit homesick but soon forgot about because the other Gappers are loads of fun to be around and it does take your mind off a lot when you’re having a good time.
Thursday we were back at the Emirates for a session with Jack (i don’t remember his last name, to many Jacks). He told us about what he does for the Arsenal programme and showed us some videos. One of them really got to me and almost made me cry. The fact that so many persons lives can be changed from these programmes is marvellous. He conducts one call the Kicks, where they actually changed an area that was associated with crime into a place where organised football can be conducted just by building a field there. Amazing. Another one is done for men who have been through a lot and took refuge in England, which helps them to socialise and one of them who couldn’t speak english now can. It was really touching. We went back to Aloyisious for the evening session with Alan, the sun was great, we filmed the session but unfortunately i couldn’t do much because i had a shin splint so i chilled on the side. We actually finished on time so we headed home for dinner. The others decided to go to a pub to watch the Arsenal game, Mark, Ali and I went to a pub in Tollington. We met up with Nick and Matt and had a great time. I drank my first Cider and it tasted so good so i had two, not like me but it was good to be out of the house with my friends.
On Friday we were off so i did my laundry and i also wasn’t feeling totally well. I didn’t know i was so bad at doing my own laundry until i saw that all my white clothes were now grey. I have no clue what i had in the washer to do that, how silly of me. The rest of the day when i wasn’t sleeping i was skyping and trying to frigger out where Wembley was because Phil invited me to go with him to a Rugby final.
Saturday came and i was excited about meeting up with Phil so i got ready on time and walked to the bus stop. It was raining in Muswell Hill but as soon as i got off the bus at Golders Green Station the rain came down and i had no umbrella. My journey to Wembley was an hour and a half, almost two but it was easy to find. I met Phil at the Bobby Moore statue and while waiting i saw a lot of very funny costumes. When i saw him i was so happy i gave him hug. He’s still the same silly guy. I didn’t know that rugby was such a cool sport till i watched pros play, it was very entertaining, i fully enjoyed it. He bought me a scarf to remember my experience and i sure will.
This experience has been so nice, being in a different country, meeting all the Gappers and other people at Chester House. The others don’t know it yet but they will be changed after this year with Arsenal, i hope they do make the most of it because i would if i could. Well next week is my last, Cheryl and i are hoping to see each other before i leave. I will miss the others, hopefully some of them will end up in Barbados next summer.

Arrival
Saturday, 31st August 2013, departing at 11:20am in Gatwick (London) on BA2155, arriving 14:50pm at Grantley Adams International (Barbados).
Renaldo stated after the arrival in Barbados: “… thanks for everything … I’m now on my way home … I don’t know how much I can say thanks to [everyone] involved in my month to London … really thankful for the opportunity … I’m grateful for a month like this.”

Impressions from the trip & the programme: