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Eastleigh Eight score in Hong Kong Sevens

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A selection of Eastleigh College students recently took part in international soccer event 'Hong Kong Soccer Sevens'. After an almost-sixteen-hour journey from Eastleigh Football Club, the students were able to explore their oriental surroundings with a tour of Hong Kong Football Club before training began the next day.

Following the first draining training session for the team unused to the Hong Kong humidity, they attended the Sportsman Dinner, honouring Lawrie Sanchez, former Fulham and Northern Ireland Manager. The boys were very kindly joined at this event by EFC Chairman Paul Murray who was in Hong Kong on business.

Before the main competition began, the teams were treated to a veteran's competition where they could watch many well known ex-footballers in action. Ex-Saints great Paul Jones even took some time out to give the Eastleigh goalkeepers a one-to-one master class before the start of their competition.

During their own soccer event the boys successfully progressed to the quarter finals, surpassing the local press expectations, before losing to reigning champions Aston Villa. However, this meant that the next day the boys had the chance to play against another team knocked out at the same stages - West Ham United FC. The premiership team just managed to pip Eastleigh to the post, but the students agreed they had learnt a lot by playing against teams of such standard.

On their last day the boys took their chance to explore more of Hong Kong before attending a last Gala presentation dinner. The team thoroughly enjoyed their experience in the competition and are fighting to train harder and enhance their skills for the next year.

Congratulations go to the students; Chris Mason, Adam Milburn, Jason Sangir, Adam Sheperd, Adam Wiltshire who took part in the competition and substitutes Justin Hall, Craig Lisher and Sam Longman.

Release date 08/07/2008