Are you interested in joining Exeter City fans on their 12th tour to Andros this summer? If so, read the following message from Neil Le Milliere.
This is your invite to visit the Greek Island of Andros in the company of lots of other Exeter supporting Grecians to enjoy what is nothing short of an idyllic break from the hustle and bustle of life back here in the UK, wires Neil Le Milliere.
It will be the 12th time we have visited the island as a group since that first visit in 2007 when the Exeter Exiles and other Grecians were invited to go to the Greek Island of Andros which is the first island in the Cyclades chain. This is reached by a short coach journey from Athens airport and then a ferry ride.
The invite came from the late Jony Brown, an English footballer who retired and ended up on Andros. Whilst Jony didn’t actually play for Exeter, he played for a few non-league teams before signing for Yeovil where his first game was against Exeter at the Park and he had fond memories of that time and from that connection he became a supporter of the Grecians.
I can provide help with all the information you need to make the trip; to get the cheapest air fares; the transfers; and accommodation. If you need me to I can book these for you and you’d be welcome to travel with my party. All my contact details are below.
We also have a tour polo shirt each year which you’d be welcome to buy.
Background
When anyone is looking round the ECFC Trophy Cabinet, the ECFC Museum Cabinets, or even generally around the St James Centre and boardroom you and others may notice some trophies and souvenirs that mention the Greek Island of Andros.
This Island of Andros is one of the outposts of ECFC Support and was the founding place for the Greek Grecians some 14 years ago after some Grecians ‘discovered’ the island had a connection to St James Park in the person of a former professional footballer who played for Yeovil Town and played his first game for them at the Park against Exeter.
From this small start an annual tour to Andros has blossomed where both Exiled and Exeter-based supporters travel to the island for a week or two and normally play a football game or games against one of the local teams on their 4G pitch which we have seen turn from a dust bowl to proper 4G pitch.
However, many of those who travel just go to enjoy the fabulous island and all it has to offer, from tremendous beaches and the Mediterranean sea, to the wonderful hospitality and food, to of course the local intoxicating liquors!
Previous Tours
In previous years the trip has consisted of a main party with most tourists travelling in one party by plane to Athens from Heathrow then down to the harbour by a dedicated bus service to get the ferry over to the island where we have a number of great villas and hotels to suit all needs.
Each tour has featured group outings and meals but all by choice and everyone is free to do what they like when they like.
The locals love to entertain us and a few special events are put on for us, meals, trips, and a free barbecue, with free drinks at a jewellers, all regularly feature alongside a football game or two though for the last couple of years it’s been a bit of a stretch as we’ve all got older.
However, this year it is more of a staggered event with an advance party leaving on Sunday, May 26, to take full advantage of the half-term and bank holiday; then a second party (my group) leaving on Tuesday, May 28, and returning on Tuesday, June 11; then the final group going out on Monday, June 3, and returning Monday., June 17.
You’d be welcome to join any of these parties if you wanted to benefit from their experience of making the trip or just make your own way.
This therefore is a general invite to anyone else that would like to join us as the more the merrier and the locals would love to see more of us there. The extremely warm and hospitable welcome they give us has to be experienced to be believed and, as anyone who has been will tell you, they really look forward to our visit and look after us like family.
I act as an unofficial travel agent for the trip and am happy to do as much or as little to help you get there as you need or want from booking flights and ferries to arranging your accommodation and can get you deals on most aspects or advise you on what you need to do if you want to book it yourself.
You can see the accommodation and the island at the following websites:
http://hotel-chryssiakti.gr/en/
http://paradisedesignapartments.gr/en/#
http://www.visitgreece.gr/en/greek_islands/cyclades/andros
The best way to get to the island is to fly out on a late evening flight from Heathrow to arrive in Athens in time to get the first coach down to the port to get the first ferry to the island and arrive at about midday. This may sound a little arduous but works very well and those who have done find it much easier than they imagine plus it gets you an additional day on the island.
Please feel free to get in touch with me if you want any more information or advice or to see more pictures of previous tours.
Cheers, Neil Le Milliere
Emial: neil_le_milliere@btinternet.com
Telephone: 02088020644,
07946615889