Like so many things these days, it’s all the internet’s fault. Dean Arrowsmith was pondering how to get to Poland next year and he found a very modern way of doing it.
The Cavan man, like all of us, was desperate to follow the exploits of the Giovanni Trapattoni’s team next summer but there was a small problem; he couldn’t afford to.
Then Dean and five of his friends hit on the idea of turning to Facebook and asking if the good people of the internet could help get them there.
Back The Bid was born and within days a whirlwind set of appearances on Today FM, 2FM and some newspaper articles had the lads well on the road to Poland.
“It just went mental,” is how Dean describes it. Soon they had over 1,300 likes on their Facebook page while #backthebid trended on Twitter.
But while the support was good, it was cold hard cash the lads the needed so in stepped DB Sports Tours to give the lads the thing they needed; a sponsored camper van.
DB Sports Tours are opening an Irish village in Poland for the tournament, where fans can base themselves for the Euros with all the facilities the travelling green army might need.
“It’s a bit like Oxegen but for football fans,” says Dean, who not only managed to get the van for himself and his friends but their accommodation at the site is also a freebie.
However, the lads still need to pay for fuel and a few cold beverages so the fundraising continues. Since Back The Bid was launched, they have been contacted by people like Paul McGrath, Ken Doherty and FAI chief executive John Delaney. They have all donated prizes that the lads are raffling off in the New Year to add further funds to their Euro 2012 account.
In fact, the only thing they haven’t got sorted yet are tickets for the games but Dean has a plan for that too.
“I emailed the FAI about that,” says Dean. “John Delaney has emailed me back so we are hopeful they can help us with those.”
With all the angles covered the date of departure is set for June 7. If Trap’s men are as lucky as Dean and his friends, then we are in for a fine summer.
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