Glory for East Lancashire swamp soccer team (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Glory for East Lancashire swamp soccer team

9:27am Wednesday 8th July 2009

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THE idea of spending a sunny weekend caked in mud would be most people’s idea of hell, but not for nine East Lancashire residents.

The Swamp Dogs – nine young competitors from Darwen and Oswaldtwistle – came away from the 12th annual Swamp Soccer World Championships grubby, but covered in glory.

The tournament, originally held in Finland but now staged in Strachan, Scotland, boasts more than 200 teams per year and the Swamp Dogs managed an impressive third place in the mixed category.

Robert Dearden, 24, of Darwen, said: “It is amazing to think that we are third-best in the world.

"All tactics previously learnt from playing on grass go out of the window.”

The matches are six-a-side and mixed teams must have at least two girls at any one time.

Rebecca McDonald, 24, of Darwen, said: “It’s a really good laugh.

"It doesn’t matter that you’re a girl, you still get kicked around.”

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