Statistics
| Tours | Clubs |
|---|---|
| October 15 | Wycombe Charlton Hitchin Cheltenham |
| Total Visits | 4 |
Full disclosure (whether appropriate or not...)—Peri is a neighbour and a mate. But everything written from here on out would have been exactly the same even if he weren't.
The moment I heard about the Cinderella Project, I knew instantly I had to join the tour.
At first, it sounded almost too good to be true—an authentic journey into the romantic heart of football, in the only country where the romance of the game seemingly still exists. With that thought in my head, my wife decided to surprise me for my 40th birthday, sending me off to England for a week to search for that pure, grassroots romance I didn’t really believe existed anymore—except in Peri’s stories. Well, for various reasons, the surprise was rumbled a bit early (instead of finding out five hours before the flight, she let it slip three months in advance...).
And so, physically and mentally, I jetted off in early October 2015 on the fifth Cinderella Tour. (Actually, the tour officially kicked off a few weeks prior at a get-together, where I mainly learned that our great English football pioneer doesn’t actually drink beer...). It was the perfect start to celebrating my official status as an old man.
And what can I say? Every single moment of the trip was better than the last.
First of all, the organisation was flawless—from the itinerary that maximised our time at every location, to the stunning house we stayed in, the comfortable motor we travelled to the matches in, and all the flight arrangements sorted by Peri (we essentially didn't have to lift a finger other than turning up at the terminal). The visits to the clubs and the matches were genuinely moving. I couldn't help getting butterflies before every single visit: meeting a manager or Chairman who was absolutely thrilled that a bunch of Israelis had come all this way just to see them, grabbing a pint in the pub right next to every ground, picking up gear in the club shop (which they have even down in the eighth tier), and above all else—the pure, unadulterated joy of the charming and truly romantic experience that is English football. A joy that stems from the most basic, authentic place.
Thankfully, the most important aspect of this trip was also the most successful: the camaraderie. There’s nothing more crucial when you're spending so many hours together—cooped up in the car, taking turns for the shower, sorting out breakfast. And the banter and camaraderie were absolutely top-notch.
And so, thanks to my wife, I kicked off my 40s with an unforgettable trip to a romantic destination (maybe she was hoping I'd come back a bit more romantic myself??? No such luck) alongside a fantastic bunch of blokes. As we all know, the next major milestone after turning 40 is turning 40-and-a-half—and I’m already planning to celebrate it exactly the same way...
So, if you want to experience a week where all the daily grind just peels away and becomes completely irrelevant, a week where you can genuinely reconnect with your most authentic, grounded self—do yourself a favour and get on the next tour with Peri. I have no doubt that, like me and many good folks before me, you will savour every single minute.
And a quick word to Perry: massive credit to you for this brilliant idea. Fair play to you for living out a childhood dream, and hats off for doing it in such a fun, heartfelt way. That’s exactly what makes these tours so special. It was (and will be...) absolutely brilliant.
