MILDENHALL, England – Players from Mildenhall Town Football Club in the yellow uniforms, shake hands with players from the RAF Mildenhall soccer team before a match July 29, 2012 at the MTFC pitch in Mildenhall. The MTFC won the match with a final score of 14-1. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Rachel Waller)
MILDENHALL, England – A player from the Mildenhall Town Football Club, in the yellow uniform dribbles the ball away from an RAF Mildenhall soccer team player during a soccer match July 29, 2012 at the MTFC pitch in Mildenhall. The semi-professional team, MTFC won the match with a score of 14-1. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Rachel Waller)
MILDENHALL, England – The goalie for Mildenhall Town Football Club in the green jersey, attempts to block a goal from the RAF Mildenhall soccer team during a soccer match July 29, 2012 at the MTFC pitch in Mildenhall. This was the only goal allowed for the base team. MTFC won the match 14-1. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Rachel Waller)
MILDENHALL, England – A player from the Mildenhall Town Football Club makes a shot on goal against the RAF Mildenhall soccer team during a match July 29, 2012 at the MTFC pitch in Mildenhall. The MTFC went on to score 13 more goals for a final score of 14-1. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Rachel Waller)
by Senior Airman Rachel Waller
100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
7/30/2012 - MILDENHALL, England -- After two months of preparation, the RAF Mildenhall soccer team played against the Mildenhall Town Football Club in a soccer match in the pouring rain July 29 at the MTFC pitch in Mildenhall, England.
The MTFC is a British semi-professional team and the base team consisted of Airmen and their dependents.
"The MTFC approached us and asked if we wanted to play," said Shane Roten, 100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the player coach. "We were delighted at the challenge, so we accepted."
Before the game began, players from both sides shook hands. After the pleasantries were exchanged the game began with a kick off.
Three minutes into the first half, the MTFC scored the first of their eight goals in the first half. After a 15-minute halftime, both teams returned to a rain-soaked pitch, ready to play the second half.
MTFC scored three goals to bring to the score 11-0 before the base team answered with a single goal at 78 minutes. After the goal, MTFC scored three more goals, bringing the final score to 14-1 in favor of the home team.
Although, his team lost, the player coach said he enjoyed the game.
"This was a great opportunity to expand our off-base relationships with the local community," said Roten.
A player from the MTFC agreed the feelings were mutual.
"It was a good game," said Darryl Coakley, MTFC left back. "It was good playing with the base and I would like to play them again."
