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World trip ... with football table
TRAVELLING around the world with a football table began as a student joke for Andy Sloan, but the trip proved so successful that he has written a book about the experience.
The 27 year old, who grew up in Horsham, embarked on the journey with the table in July 2001 and spent a year travelling across Europe, Russia, Iran, India, the Himalayas and the Far East challenging people to games.
His book, '23 Sweet FAs – Round the World with a Football Table', which is released on Thursday May 4, details the adventure – from meeting England boss Sven and Brazilian legend Pele to taking tea at the Dalai Lama's home.
Andy, who supports Spurs, originally came up with the idea for the trip while studying law at Bristol University.
"It was just a ridiculous suggestion on the train on the way back from a New Year's Eve celebration," he explained.
"I wanted to go travelling when I finished uni so we were just talking about what we'd do.
"It was quickly forgotten about but revived in uni bars and it just developed from there. It got to the point where we'd told so many people about it that we had to do it."
To plan the trip, Andy drew a line on a world map and wrote a letter to the Football Associations of every country the line went through.
"We only got one reply, which was from the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran," he explained.
Undeterred by the lack of responses, Andy and fellow founder of the table Mike Milnes, from Huddersfield, set off from Horsham station on July 19 intent on getting the table on to the pitches of the great stadiums of each country.
And the idea proved hugely successful, attracting coverage from national newspapers and TV companies across the world.
Andy explained the route was partly dictated by the people he encountered on the way, with chance meetings reaping dividends.
The book details his experiences along the journey, from playing Fifa president Sepp Blatter in Zurich to staying with Tibetan monks in Bombay and sitting down to watch the World Cup final.
He added that there was not a specific highlight, but that the whole adventure had been a fantastic experience.
"The whole thing generally and the fact we did what we said we were going to do," Andy said.
"Meeting Pele was, of course, phenomenal and getting seats at the World Cup final – that was a childhood dream."
Andy had taken a video camera with him to record the adventure but had not originally intended to write a book.
He explained: "I have always wanted to write a book but never knew what I would write about.
"I kept a really detailed journal of the trip and as things started to happen I realised this would make a good tale and it just developed from there."
Published by Virgin, the book will be released on May 4 with a special launch event on Wednesday May 3 at Ottakars, in Horsham's Carfax.
The event will start at 7pm and include a 20 minute talk by Andy about the book and his adventures, with slides, followed by a question and answer session.
The event is open to everyone and there will be a chance to have your book signed.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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