It was with some trepidation that I set off from Shanghai, with my fellow Vet John Lay, to rejoin the Raiders on tour for the first time in 19 years. Having passed my football prime well before I even started playing for the Raiders back then, I wondered how I would cope with the rigours of modern day tournament soccer. I needn’t have worried, as the Saigon Vets proved to be the Viking Cup entertainers, averaging 10 goals per game (that’s for and against) in their 4 matches and finishing in a creditable 3rd place.

However, these tours are not really about the soccer. The pinnacle of the Viking Cup is the Drinking Tournament, and in that the Raiders excelled, winning the trophy for the 2nd year running with a consummate display of drinking. Alex, Floyd, Sasha, Nico and Pat – you were inspirational that night.

The Vets decided on Pat as their Player of the Tournament. Not that he played a game (due to injury), but his self-sacrifice, as drinker in the last leg of the Final, was quite extraordinary to behold. To this day, I still think he has half the glass hidden away in his beard somewhere…

Throughout, the fun and banter, as old Raiders mixed with new, was a joy. It was wonderful to see that Wild Turkey is still a staple part of a Raiders’ diet, and to enjoy the company of our new generation, representing the Raiders in a way that us Vets were proud to see.

Finally, thanks to you, Floyd. You have kept the Raiders spirit going and are indeed a worthy successor to our Dear Leader of old, Henrik Petersen. Here’s to the Raiders, still the greatest football club in Saigon!

Neale