On tonight's episode Cameron Tucker takes a look back at how Kent reacted to England's EURO final loss against Spain, plus we meet the BMX Racer from Tunbridge Wells hoping for a Team GB future.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Hello and welcome along to Invictus Sport, the only show on your TV dedicated to wrapping
00:20up all of Kent's sporting action. I'm Cameron Tucker and here's what to expect on Monday
00:25the 15th July.
00:29Devastating defeat, Kent reacts as England's men fall short once again in bid for Euros
00:34glory. Kent's woes continue with two more losses in the T20 blast.
00:43And ramped up, we meet Kent's up and coming BMX racer, who says he'll stop at nothing
00:49for a spot in Team GB.
00:52As thousands across the county and country watched on in agony, it just wasn't meant
00:57to be for England at this year's Euros. Despite high expectations for Gareth Southgate's
01:02squad in Germany, there were no last-minute heroics this time around to end the 58-year
01:08wait for a major men's tournament trophy. Our reporter Bartholomew Hall was watching
01:14the drama at the Harbour Arm in Folkestone.
01:18Excitement, anticipation and hope. That's all you could see here at Folkestone's Harbour
01:26Arm as Kent watched on to find out if England's men could achieve what had never been done
01:31by them before, winning a Euros final. Drinks poured, laughter served and even the odd score
01:37prediction thrown about.
01:47Kick-off got underway here and all that energy quickly turned into nervousness. 58 years
01:57without a win in a major tournament and for the second Euros in a row, the Three Lions
02:02had a chance to turn that statistic around. Nothing scored in the first half, so it was
02:07back to the drinks for half-time, a reminder of the welcome boost England's success has
02:11brought to the local hospitality industry.
02:15Tickets for this went in less than 10 seconds and the screen site we've done since 2018,
02:20it was brought in for the World Cup then, there's nothing quite like it because historic
02:25sport on a big screen, I think with everyone here, it's just the best.
02:30As the match resumed, hopes remained intact at the first whistle, but it didn't last for
02:34very long. A Spain goal sent the crowd here into silence as England chances were beginning
02:43to slip away and the doubt was starting to creep in. Then again, it wouldn't be the first
02:48time this tournament England had scored after falling behind.
02:55A young, bright and fearless Cole Palmer brought England back into the game and sent the nation's
03:15football fans into raptures, with those here in Kent being no exception. A welcome celebration
03:21or not, perhaps a little pre-emptive, as there were still 15 minutes of play left to
03:27go. The final whistle was blown and this time England's hopes were not matched with success.
03:45We played awful, we played rubbish, we'd never win. Will I ever see England win? Will I ever see England win a game?
03:53I think it was going to go to penalties, so it's not the best, but 2-1 at least, at least we got one goal in.
03:58We thought it was coming home, but do you know what, I'm happy we scored a goal, it was a laugh, and at the end of the day...
04:05Laughs good.
04:06Made the best team win.
04:07Laughs good.
04:08I can't stand here and say we deserved it, but you got into the tournament as favourites,
04:13you scraped through the group stage, scraped through most of the knockout stages, put in one good performance the whole tournament, and then we do that.
04:18The amount of pretentiousness in this team is...
04:20We have a future, but it's not with Southgate on the wheel.
04:23Anger, dejection, and even the odd shedding of a tear here in Folkestone, England have fallen at the final hurdle.
04:30Despite breaking the records to get to a consecutive Euros final, Gareth Southgate's men haven't been able to bring it home.
04:3758 years of hurt and counting.
04:40Bartholomew Hall for KMTV in Folkestone.
04:43Well, pretty devastating for all of us.
04:46Now, I'm joined by Keith Mabbert, founder of the Street Soccer Foundation and former Gillingham player.
04:52Keith, we're going to talk a little bit about the Street Soccer Foundation and some happy and uplifting news, which we desperately need at this point.
05:00But let's turn to Sunday's action.
05:05Pretty agonising, defeatist, deflated, all of the synonyms you can come up with.
05:10All of those feelings all today, I imagine, for you as well.
05:13Well, it's just mainly disappointment and disheartening the fact that we were so close.
05:19We got to the final, and it's all the could, what ifs and what could have been.
05:23Because I think with the squad that we have and had, we definitely could have won it.
05:28I know we kind of labelled our way through the group stages and obviously got into the knockouts.
05:33Come the final, we were the underdogs, there's no doubt about that.
05:36Spain were clearly the favourites, the way they'd been playing was absolutely outstanding.
05:40But I think the players that we've got in that squad, looking at the guys there,
05:45the frustration I guess crept in when, it sounds so difficult to say it,
05:51but someone like Harry Kane, so many people are sharing the same opinion,
05:54but he's an outstanding footballer, there's no doubt about that.
05:58But just at that moment in time, looking at him on the pitch,
06:03he was clearly struggling, and his match fitness was a little bit questionable.
06:06Obviously he's England's top scorer, captain of the team,
06:09but you've got someone like Olly Watkins, you've got Cole Palmer on the bench,
06:12even Anthony Gordon, just give him a go.
06:15Fresh legs, they're going to be buzzing all over the place.
06:17When he eventually made the change, look what happened.
06:20Almost straight away we got a goal back, and it galvanised the team.
06:23I for one honestly thought that might spur us on to go and take it,
06:27but the way Spain reacted was just, you have to hold your hands up.
06:30So I think overall they obviously did deserve the win.
06:33I think that's the behaviour of winners, isn't it?
06:35We hear about the moments that England have got there,
06:37but Spain have been consistent throughout the tournament.
06:40But you were mentioning some of the names there on paper,
06:43I think going in lots of people would have put England as the tournament favourites.
06:48So kind of mixed feelings today.
06:50Should we be proud of how far they've achieved,
06:52or should we have expected maybe more from them,
06:55even throughout the whole of the past few weeks?
06:58I'm on the fence of absolutely be proud of the guys.
07:01Because there's no guarantees in football, there isn't.
07:03And especially when it's tournament football.
07:05It's a knockout situation.
07:07You look at what happens here in this country with the FA Cup,
07:09anything can happen.
07:11Shout out to Maidstone United, what they did in the FA Cup,
07:14they took on Ipswich and beat them.
07:16Ipswich were in the Premier League this season.
07:18So anything can happen.
07:20The squad that we have, the teams are sometimes really galvanised
07:25to take on the likes of Harry Kane and Code
07:27to really turn in a performance.
07:29So I think reaching the final is an incredible achievement,
07:32just short of the overall ambition.
07:35But overall I think the guys can come back to an absolutely incredible welcome,
07:38which I really hope they do get.
07:40And fingers crossed with obviously the response going forward.
07:44But I think the nucleus of the team is really exciting.
07:47The average age of those that have come through,
07:49the likes of also Conor Gallagher as well.
07:51Unbelievable players.
07:53Cole Palmer, I'm a massive fan of Cole Palmer.
07:55Every time I see him play, I've watched him a few times this season,
07:57last from Chelsea.
07:59He's outstanding.
08:01I'm really excited.
08:03Obviously disappointed, so unfortunate.
08:05But all power to the guys.
08:07I think they've done us really proud.
08:09And a final thing to dwell on with the match as well.
08:11Obviously lots of conversations around Gareth Southgate
08:13and him continuing.
08:15A lot of his decisions vindicated throughout the tournament.
08:17He came too far.
08:19What do you think the future holds for him?
08:21What do you think we can expect to happen next?
08:23It's a really tricky one.
08:25I've been asked this question literally over the lead-up to the final
08:27and since the final.
08:29But I think it's one of them that...
08:31He's took us to two finals, hasn't he?
08:33Two Euros back-to-back finals.
08:35Unbelievable.
08:37So you look at it on paper,
08:39he's the most successful manager after Sir Ralph Ramsey.
08:41But I think in terms of achievements
08:43and where we're at with him
08:45with the squad and the England set-up
08:47perhaps maybe it's time for a change.
08:49It can be good, but it can be hard.
08:51And it's kind of the classic
08:53who steps in.
08:55So it'll be interesting.
08:57He'll make his decision, no doubt, in the future.
08:59I think the FA do want to keep him, so we'll see.
09:01But I've got nothing but respect for Gareth Southgate.
09:03I'm a massive fan of him, so I think he's done brilliantly.
09:05All of us will.
09:07It won't be the waistcoats the same again if he does go.
09:09Speaking of younger players
09:11a lot,
09:13tell us a little bit about your organisation.
09:15You work very closely with young people
09:17getting them on the right track in football.
09:19Tell us a little bit
09:21I know we've had you on before
09:23but for those watching the first time
09:25tell us a little bit about the organisation and what you do.
09:27I'm the founder of the Street Soccer Foundation
09:29as you kindly know. Thank you for your massive, brilliant support.
09:31But we work as a charity
09:33nationwide across the country.
09:35We're formed out of Kent, our home county.
09:37But we work in partnership
09:39with clubs all across the Pyramid.
09:41Primarily right across the professional pyramid
09:43to League Two.
09:45We have a programme called the Street Soccer Academy
09:47which is a personal development course
09:49run for ten weeks, twice a year it's delivered
09:51in the spring, summer, autumn and winter.
09:53The clubs themselves
09:55deliver it as a club-led initiative
09:57to work with vulnerable young people
09:59typically 18 to 30, male and female
10:01it's all inclusive
10:03and those that are currently experiencing homelessness
10:05or may be deemed at risk of becoming homeless.
10:07Fundamentally what we're trying to do
10:09is use football as a force for good
10:11attract people in, give them that coaching
10:13ability and then take them on a journey of
10:15self-discovery if you like
10:17and build up their soft skill development
10:19and hopefully aim to get them into work education
10:21or further training and the impact we've achieved
10:23on that is really, really good.
10:25And we're seeing some footage on screen now
10:27from some of that amazing
10:29work that's been done
10:31and here on screen as well we've got
10:33fortunately for them
10:35some trophies, for them unlike our England guys
10:37taking place at
10:39Leicester City's training ground. Tell us a little bit about
10:41what's been happening about this event
10:43recently and the number of people involved.
10:45Yeah, this was incredible
10:47so these guys are from the Everton team
10:49Everton in the Community, the Community Arm of Everton
10:51Football Club, one of our partners
10:53these guys won the actual tournament
10:55it took place at Leicester City's training ground at Seagrave
10:57incredible complex
10:59it's lifetime memories
11:01for these guys, you're not there
11:03unless you play for Leicester City, obviously now
11:05they're in the Premier League Club again
11:07so the day itself, 18 teams
11:09all over the country representing groups
11:11that had come through the academy programme
11:13and ultimately we had it
11:15where circa 200 plus young people
11:17were taking part in this event
11:19and it's
11:21really great for me here because
11:23the top I'm wearing today, we've got the big goal involved
11:25as well so this is a new campaign that I created
11:27at the beginning of the year, we launched it to
11:29try and identify with businesses
11:31actually to sort of give them an opportunity
11:33to get involved and sponsor these guys
11:35sponsor young people in their local community
11:37through an academy programme
11:39and the response we've had has been incredible
11:41so I'm really proud of the big goal as well
11:43as part of this initiative campaign
11:45but yeah, we're building every year, year on year
11:47Keith, it's fantastic
11:49and like I said, hopefully some trophies
11:51in two years time like this one here
11:53we'll be back in a sec after a short break
11:55stick around
12:03Thank you
12:33Thank you
13:03Thank you
13:33Thank you
14:03Thank you
14:05Thank you
14:07Thank you
14:09Thank you
14:11Thank you
14:13Thank you
14:15Thank you
14:17Thank you
14:19Thank you
14:21Thank you
14:23Thank you
14:25Thank you
14:27Thank you
14:29Thank you
14:31Thank you
14:33Thank you
14:35Thank you
14:37Thank you
14:39Thank you
14:41Thank you
14:43Thank you
14:45Thank you
14:47Thank you
14:49Thank you
14:51Thank you
14:53Thank you
14:55Thank you
14:57Thank you
14:59Thank you
15:01Thank you
15:03Thank you
15:05Thank you
15:07Thank you
15:09Thank you
15:11Thank you
15:13Thank you
15:15Thank you
15:17Thank you
15:19Thank you
15:21Thank you
15:23Thank you
15:25Thank you
15:27Thank you
15:29Thank you
15:31Thank you
15:33Thank you
15:35Thank you
15:37Thank you
15:39Thank you
15:41Thank you
15:43Thank you
15:45Thank you
15:47Thank you
15:49Thank you
15:51Thank you
15:53Thank you
15:55Thank you
15:57Thank you
15:59Thank you
16:01Thank you
16:03Thank you
16:05Thank you
16:07Thank you
16:09Thank you
16:11Thank you
16:13Thank you
16:15Thank you
16:17Thank you
16:19Thank you
16:21Thank you
16:23Thank you
16:25Thank you
16:27Thank you
16:29Thank you
16:31Thank you
16:33Thank you
16:35Thank you
16:37Thank you
16:39Thank you
16:41Thank you
16:43Thank you
16:45Thank you
16:47Thank you
16:49Thank you
16:51Thank you
16:53Thank you
16:55Thank you
16:57Thank you
16:59Thank you
17:01Thank you
17:03Thank you
17:05Thank you
17:07Thank you
17:09Thank you
17:11Thank you
17:13Thank you
17:15Thank you
17:17Thank you
17:19Thank you
17:21Thank you
17:23Thank you
17:25Thank you
17:27Thank you
17:29Thank you
17:31Thank you
17:33Thank you
17:35Thank you
17:37Thank you
17:39Thank you
17:41Thank you
17:43Thank you
17:45Thank you
17:47Thank you
17:49Thank you
17:51Thank you
17:53Thank you
17:55Thank you
17:57Thank you
17:59Thank you
18:01Thank you
18:03Thank you
18:05Thank you
18:07Thank you
18:09Thank you
18:11Thank you
18:13Thank you
18:15Thank you
18:17Thank you
18:19Thank you
18:21Thank you
18:23Thank you
18:25Thank you
18:27Thank you
18:29Thank you
18:31Thank you
18:33Thank you
18:35Thank you
18:37Thank you
18:39Thank you
18:41Thank you
18:43Thank you
18:45Thank you
18:47Thank you
18:49Thank you
18:51Thank you
18:53Thank you
18:55Thank you
18:57Thank you
18:59Thank you
19:01Thank you
19:03Thank you
19:05Thank you
19:07Thank you
19:09Thank you
19:11Thank you
19:13Thank you
19:15Thank you
19:17Thank you
19:19Thank you
19:21Thank you
19:23Thank you
19:25Thank you
19:27Thank you
19:29Thank you
19:31Thank you
19:33Thank you
19:35Thank you
19:37Thank you
19:39Thank you
19:41Thank you
19:43Thank you
19:45Thank you
19:47Thank you
19:49Thank you
19:51Thank you
19:53Thank you
19:55Thank you
19:57Thank you
19:59Thank you
20:01Thank you
20:03Thank you
20:05Thank you
20:07Thank you
20:09Thank you
20:11Thank you
20:13Thank you
20:15Thank you
20:17Thank you
20:19Thank you
20:21Thank you
20:23Thank you
20:25Thank you
20:27Thank you
20:29Thank you
20:31Thank you
20:33Thank you
20:35can represent their nation.
20:38These are stick fighting students from Family Martial Arts in Gravesend
20:42and they have been given an amazing opportunity
20:44partaking in the Global Stick and Blade Alliance World Championship
20:47as part of Team GB.
20:49Well we started the team about two years ago.
20:52Everyone wasn't expecting much from us because no one had heard from us.
20:56We actually did quite well and we started getting some gold medals
20:59and then gradually over time we've done alright.
21:02About two months ago I got an email from the head of the GSBA
21:07the Global Stick and Blade Alliance in the UK
21:11asking us to join Team GB to fight in the World Tournament in Poland.
21:15My eyes were welling up when I opened that email.
21:18You don't often get other people that you respect
21:22like the heads of that system
21:26or recognising your students for being world class.
21:32The opportunity this gives them, I was just thinking about
21:37and also they get invited to the squad training
21:40by the best people in the country.
21:43Even if they didn't compete they could join the squad training
21:46and learn from the best people.
21:48Yeah, I was well chuffed.
21:49Travelling to Poland and competing comes at a price.
21:52One that unfortunately not every student can afford.
21:55We're trying to get sponsorship for the fighters
21:58to pay for the flights, the accommodation and their tournament entry.
22:05Because everyone's struggling at the moment.
22:08I didn't want to squeeze the school's parents or family members.
22:14Just ask them.
22:16So we're trying to get corporate sponsorship.
22:19Some of the fighters can afford to do it
22:22but for the ones that can't
22:25I don't want them to not have that opportunity
22:30because we couldn't make it happen.
22:39And finally, after only having become an Olympic sport in 2008
22:43BMX racing is considered one of the most dangerous
22:46and enthralling of all the events
22:48that will feature at this year's Games in Paris.
22:50But one youngster from Tunbridge Wells
22:52who learnt his craft at a specially made track in Gravesend
22:55says he'll stop at nothing to one day be part of the squad representing GB.
23:00Bartholomew Hall has been to meet him.
23:03I'm passionate about the sport. I want to be there.
23:05That's really all I train for, race for and it's everything.
23:09That's what I want to do.
23:15Danny Jake has just finished his GCSEs
23:18but unlike his classmates he won't be spending the summer
23:21swanning off in the sun.
23:23In fact, it's straight back to work and straight back on his bike
23:26as he follows his dream to one day be part of the Team GB BMX racing squad.
23:32First picking up the sport at the age of eight
23:34thanks to the encouragement of a family friend
23:36Danny quickly fell in love with the speed, adrenaline
23:39and fearlessness required to take on tracks like these
23:43and hasn't looked back since.
23:45I just like going fast. I like the adrenaline.
23:47Going around, jumping all the big jumps. It's good.
23:50There's a lot of hard work put into it.
23:52Going from gym to doing sprints.
23:55It's a dedicated sport you have to be into.
23:59Just before a go I'm thinking tunnel vision straight.
24:03Wanting to get to the corner first and get there as quick as I can.
24:09Danny Jake has already won major national competitions
24:12with the most recent being in Cumbernauld in Scotland
24:15where he took the top spot in the junior men's race.
24:23BMX racing isn't just about shooting it down the track
24:26as fast as you can.
24:27There's a huge amount of control that comes into it
24:30especially on these jumps.
24:32Eight riders launch themselves from the top of an eight metre hill
24:35to try and stay in close formation
24:37as they navigate a variety of dirt jumps
24:39and banked turns to come out in front.
24:41The sport first appeared at the Olympics in Beijing 2008
24:44and has remained one of the most popular fixtures.
24:47It's since gone on to become notorious for its crashes
24:50and at Tokyo 2020 was considered the most dangerous sport
24:54with athletes picking up more injuries than any other event.
24:58But even the prospect of a crash
25:00doesn't slow down Danny Jake's determination.
25:03You can break bones such as I have. I broke a lot.
25:08Does that worry you at all?
25:09How much does that come into your preparation?
25:11I don't really think about it after.
25:14Danny Jake's main track is at Peckham BMX Club
25:17but he takes himself a weekly practice here
25:19at Cycler Park in Gravesend
25:21where the track itself is named after
25:23one of Team GB's greatest BMX successes
25:26gold medallist Beth Schriever.
25:28During the Olympic season the excitement here only grows.
25:31There's definitely an increased participation
25:33especially when the Olympics is actually on.
25:35I think people start to see the sports on the telly
25:37and think I'll have a go at that
25:39and Beth Schriever had quite a long time riding here
25:41so that started off with a few of the local clubs
25:43and to see her go on to do amazing things
25:45has actually been a crazy experience for the venue.
25:48And like I say, seeing Danny Jake
25:50and some of the likes of the other riders
25:51that have been coming through
25:52we know that we can kind of allow those people
25:55to have that pathway.
25:57So as he follows in the tyre tracks of the legends before him
26:00perhaps one day we'll all be cheering on Danny Jake's name
26:03as he gears up for a future of success.
26:06Bartholomew Hall for KMTV in Gravesend.
26:11Definitely keeping an eye on Danny Jake there
26:13but that's full time on today's episode of Invictus Sport.
26:17If you want more from KMTV
26:19you can watch all our other special programmes
26:21Kent Politics, Showmating Kent, Kent on Climate
26:24and the Kent Film Club by visiting our website
26:26kmtv.co.uk
26:29We'll be back on Monday
26:31with more sport from across the county
26:33and hopefully some happier news
26:35rather than yesterday's result.
26:37But that's it for us now.
26:39Goodbye.
27:01.