Marple U17 Vipers Soccer Team Hosts Team From England

Over the years the Marple Newtown U17 VIPERS, coached by Jim Nicolardi, have battled many premier soccer teams at venues from upstate New York to Virginia.

However, this past weekend, they played an opponent none would have imagined a few months ago. The Bridgend College team from Wales in the UK came to the states May 25 and toured the East Coast playing top soccer teams from Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

The 26 Welsh players also got their fill of sightseeing by visiting Ground Zero, NYC and the Jersey shore.
The Bridgend players spent the weekend in PA and were hosted by the Viper players and their families. Their final stop was a “friendly” match on Sunday, June 5 between Bridgend and the Vipers.

It was a close fought match with Bridgend coming out on top with the final score 3 – 2.

After the game, in true international soccer fashion, the teams exchanged jerseys and enjoyed a philly-style dinner hosted by the Vipers.