Here’s one in glorious technicolour. It’s the Abergavenny Utd U18 side in 1979 sitting pretty and preparing for the Rhenen International Youth Tournament.

In the wake of their epic match with Bayern Munich Youth, Utd were asked to participate in their first Rhenen tournament which turned out to be an unforgettable experience.

In three matches the lads didn’t concede a goal in open play, but they were eventually kicked out on penalties against D.I. Massy from Paris.

Still, the lads were awarded the tournament’s Fair-Play trophy which can you see in the photo.

Needless to say, lessons had been learned and on the following trip, the Aber lads went out there and took the continent by storm.

Competing against 19 crack teams from Holland, Germany, France, Belgium and of course, England, it was Aber what won it and also another Fair Play trophy to boot.

Records were broken, champagne was uncorked, and boasts were earned as the Aber club became the first British team to win the tournament and the only team to win both the tournament and the Fair Play trophy.

They were also the first team to win the tournament without conceding a goal.

Aber won the whole shebang by beating firm favorites, the mighty German outfit Union 08. John Willians’s 30 yard free kick hit the back of the neck, and try as they might the Germans couldn’t find the equalizer. Thanks to the awesome display of goalkeeping by John James.

As Coach Terry Hodgins who kindly supplied the photo stressed, “It was a magnificent occasion for the team and the whole of Abergavenny. It was the day when a small town from Wales conquered Europe.”

The Twin Town football Reunion evening will be held on October 23 at the Llanwenarth Arms. Anyone who participated in Twin Town football is more than welcome, but as seating is limiting, booking is advised. The deadline for booking is May 31. All interested parties should call Terry Hodgins on 01873 852896.

If you’ve got any engaging and striking pictures from the past (they don’t just have to be sport related!) that could do with an airing and benefit from the oxygen of publicity, then why let them

linger and gather dust in the drawer a day longer? Send them to [email protected]. Alternatively you can do things the old fashioned way and pick up the telephone and ring Tim Butters on 01873 852187 (30).