Top English pair face Dutch date
TRAVEL plans are in the minds of English champions East Grinstead and Reading who must go to Holland to play against each other in the European League’s round of 16.
Reading’s challenge last year was affected by a car crash involving their defender Jon Brown and three other players. Luckily no one was hurt.
This time Reading, the 2003 European champions, are looking at the train option while East Grinstead are preparing to go by coach to the Easter tournament hosted by the Bloemendaal club.
East Grinstead manager Matt Jones said: “It’s a shame that we have to go to one of the most famous clubs in Holland just to play one of our own great rivals in Reading as we play them about five times a season and are only an hour down the road but it does at least guarantee one of us getting into the quarter-finals.”
Reading coach Ben Barnes said: “Last year was a disaster for us with the car crash so we are looking at going by train. We beat East Grinstead twice last season, and they thrashed us 8-1 this season.”
Beeston, England’s other representative, take on Russian champions Dynamo Kazan.