On Tour

Spartans on Tour

Spartans has a proud tradition of arranging football tours around the region, starting with loosely named touring teams such as Western Dragons and Barnestoneworth United that were comprised mainly of players playing for Wanchai Spartans. In total the club has toured 12 different countries since 1991/1992, including North Korea, Japan, Thailand, Philippines, Taiwan, China, Macau, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and now South Korea. There are plans in the next year to tour Vladivostok, Russia and Gold Coast, Australia….who knows where the Spartans may end up.

Spartans on the whole have very rarely done well on tour – football-wise that is. However, the tour is always rescued by some quite prodigious extracurricular activities. Under the long standing Kai Tak Rules Treaty of 1845, what goes on tour stays on tour, but suffice to say socializing and drinking plays a large role in this department. We asked a few Spartans what was their most memorable tour and why…

“The recent Sohos tour to Hanoi was definitely my pick of bunch. The hottest game of football in the most hungover state in the most dilapidated Soviet-era pitch ever; El Tel’s ‘Man of the Tour’ antics; Rick Man‘s face when he won ‘Mug of the Tour’; drunken moto-rides through back streets at 3am; Rob’s cock-blocking hotel manager and Randy’s subsequent TripAdvisor review; and the whole squad singing Robbie Williams’ Angels in the bar at the backpackers after far too many ’hand-grenade’ tequila/jagerbomb shots “….. Paul (Pablo) Kay

“Always the BKK tours were the best. For older Spartans, we will remember.” …..Jon (Flabbo) Southgate

“The best Spartan that was never a Spartan” and this was Kevin Faure. A truly awful footballer but my first name on any tour sheet despite him never playing for us. I recall one time we were in a charming massage establishment and from another room I heard Kevin’s voice… “Clive she wants me to take all my gear off, what do I do?”, to which I immediately advised him to get his kit off but keep his beautiful fluffy socks on that he so loved. A legend was born: Kevin ‘Fluffy’ Faure“ …….Clive (Hitler) Bunyard

Andy “Boris” Blank

Andy “Boris” Blank has been involved in the Hong Kong Football scene forever. Not only did he help create Wanchai Spartans FC along with Bunyard, he also started Studz FC (now Discovery Bay FC) and Monopoly (now Club Tropicana). These days he’s a man of mystery, jetting around the world, and if you’re lucky you might bump into him briefly at some random airport in some distant land. However, if you ever meet Andy, he always greets you with a big smile and an infectiously positive attitude about life, and of course his trademark gold chain around his neck.

We asked past and present Spartans for their views on the great man…. Bunyard: “I was the first to see him score…”

Flabbo: “…and the last…it wasn’t even over the line…”

PB: “…No, y’right…and it was offside too…”

Boots Gallacher: “…full-time whistle was blown minutes before…”

Boots: “…he was fuckin’ shite… I only use to pick him cos he was sponsoring the team…”

FS: “…and the shirts were too tight…” We salute you Boris, wherever you may be.