Poland Revisited

I've just arrived back from Warsaw, Poland after a short holiday as it was the base for the 2012 Lionsraw Legacy Tour. During the tour we were always busy delivering coaching sessions in schools that we didn't have a great deal of time to do any sightseeing. Thanks to Groupon I found a really good deal that included 4* accommodation at the grand hotel Mercure and return flights...can't argue with that!

Our flight out was 6.45am Monday morning and we arrived into Warsaw about 10.30am to be greeted by sunshine. The temperature was fairly low, but it made a change from snow in Newcastle. We got settled in and set off on a walk around the centrum and Old Town taking some pictures along the way. The sunshine was very deceiving as it was actually freezing! So we decided to stop off in the Old Town and get some food before meeting Mark from Lionsraw Polska to revisit the youth detention centre after spending a lot of time working there during Euro 2012.

We got the tram there, which turned out to be an easy alternative to the taxi and met with Andrzej to listen to his plans for the Lionsraw Cup 2013 which sounds very interesting. It is also pleasing to see the showers are still in excellent condition and that the young people enjoyed working with the English coaches so much that they can't wait for April when a group will be returning.

We headed back on the tram to the centrum and got some food before meeting some of the girls from the hostel we stayed in back in June last year. They took us to a couple of bars to try to Polish beer again and told us about their ingenious idea to sell Wifi cables! We did revisit the Irish Bar just past where ITV were based, but unfortunately only had time for one beer as a group of University students in England began chanting and the Police were called...sounded familiar!


The next day we got up and headed for the Stadion Narodowy for a tour. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get to it during the Euro's but the fan zone was an excellent alternative. However we had a tour and it was one of my favourite stadiums. We were joined on the players tour by a girl called Sofia from Ukraine who was hoping they would beat Poland in the fixture today. We also had a family of Porto fans from Lisbon who wished us good luck as Newcastle Utd face their rivals Benfica in the Europa League. I'm always interested to see parts of a stadium that on a match day you might normally not see so the changing rooms, referee area, chapel and underground highway were all interesting. The roof was closed ahead of the International match, but it is expected to be open so hopefully there is no rain!

In the afternoon we met again with Magda who took us around the Palace on the Water, Chopin monument and the Labyrinth of Light. All sights we wouldn't have seen without local knowledge so we were extremely grateful for her time! I also featured on Polish TV as tvn ambushed us once they heard us speaking English.  We headed back to the centrum an got ready for a night at a local club which was highly entertaining. The Polish dance moves are unique!

Our final day in Warsaw and again it was snowing plus around 5 degrees. It didn't feel that cold, but we had done a fair bit of walking. We did some shopping for souvenirs, visited the tourist office to get some information before heading the see the Old Town one last time. We successfully negotiated the bus to the airport before our flight back to London. The less said about the drive from Stansted to Newcastle the better.

On reflection Warsaw was my Lionsraw debut, but going back brought back memories which reminded me why Brazil in 2014 should be amazing. I was lucky enough to visit again and see a bit more of Warsaw as the city has lots to offer. If you are after a little city break I can't recommend it highly enough. Will it be the last time I visit?

Craig and Michael's Story

ABOUT US

In 2012 we spent two weeks in Warsaw, Poland during Euro 2012 coaching football in schools and youth detention centres. This opportunity came about through our volunteering through StreetGames and their partnership with the football charity Lionsraw. This was an amazing opportunity as it gave us a chance to learn new skills and gain life experience. In Poland all our sessions focused on teamwork and handling disappointment as that is something the youth offender’s centres had identified as appropriate to the groups. In the school sessions we were treated like celebrities as the children wanted to meet their new coaches from England. The experience of being in a city hosting a major sporting event was incredible.

We share a dream of wanting to go to the Brazil World Cup in 2014 not just as spectators but as people who want to make a difference in the world by using sport as the tool to engage disadvantaged people. The surrounding area of Curitiba has problems including drugs, but young children do not attend school leaving them with little to do apart from resort to a life of crime. Even within the city children attend school for half a day meaning they have free time that needs to be occupied.

This article is about us and our backgrounds in sport, volunteering and our life experiences.

Craig Robson

Age – 23 Born – Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom Volunteer Experience – I started volunteering during my degree at Northumbria University. Through my degree placement I started working with North Tyneside Council and eventually this led to a full time coaching role. However I remained a volunteer and continued to support new volunteers on a project set up by the Council. This meant I was able to travel to Poland and represent our project. Sporting Experience – I hold a variety of sports qualifications including football, table tennis, dodgeball and athletics at level 2. I am also qualified as bikeability instructor teaching young people how to cycle on the roads safely. Life Experience – Poland 2012 was amazing as it is the first major sporting event I have attended in a different country. I spent a month travelling around Peru visiting the Amazon and Machu Pichu which was classic. Hobbies and Interests - My main hobby is sport as it is something that I am involved with daily either as work or socially. I enjoy travelling and learning about new cultures which make Brazil 2014 an ideal experience!

Michael Gardner

Age – 21

Born – Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Volunteer Experience – I started volunteering after deciding that I did not want to work my whole life doing something I was not passionate about. Football has always been a big part of my life and I started to volunteer at my local football project called the HatTrick project. I volunteer for my local football club and I am also on the young advisors board for a national charity called StreetGames.

Sporting Experience – I have years of experience coaching football and through my volunteering commitments I have won both local and national awards for outstanding contributions to my local community. I have a FA level 1 and nearing completion of my FA level 2. I am a sports leader’s level 2 and I am also a qualified tutor. I hope to gain a lot more qualifications during the year to prepare me for Brazil 2014.

Life Experience – Poland 2012 was life changing for me because the work was so worthwhile and it felt that we were leaving a lasting legacy for Warsaw. Through my work with StreetGames I was offered a work placement with Coca Cola during the London 2012 Olympic Games. I was based at the Olympic Park and had the privileged to witness the unbelievable atmosphere around the parks whilst watching the different sports in my spare time.

Hobbies and Interests - My main hobby is football, I coach and play football. I support Newcastle United who play in the English Premier League. I have witnessed some of the world’s biggest sporting events and it is safe to say that I have caught the bug and shall be using my passion to change lives all over the world.

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Polska!

After hearing the news about the success of Lionsraw in Poland I had to have a look back through the photographs of our amazing time in Warsaw! (courtesy of Adam Summers)

The beautiful city of Warsaw.

The Mini Euro 2012 tournament held at a youth detention centre.

One of the schools which had fantastic facilities.

The team.