Myrtle Beach Soccer Tournament 2024: The Lowdown
So, the Myrtle Beach Soccer Tournament for 2024. Yeah, I went. Heard the guys talking about it for months, figured why not? It’s been a while since we all got together for a proper football trip. My old boots were calling my name, or maybe that was just the smell coming from the closet.
Getting Ready – More Than Just Packing Bags
First things first, I had to actually find my gear. Dug out the boots, gave ’em a bit of a clean. Realized my shin guards were practically fossilized, so I grabbed a new pair. Then came the usual chaos of organizing. We booked flights – always a bit of a gamble trying to get everyone on similar schedules. Found a hotel that wasn’t miles from the fields, which is key, trust me. You don’t want a long drive after a tough game. Then there’s the team fees, getting the roster sorted. It’s always a bit of a scramble, but we somehow pulled it together.
The Trip Down and Settling In
The flight itself? Standard stuff. Waited in lines, shuffled through security. You know the drill. Finally landed in Myrtle Beach. Stepped out, and that humid, salty air just hit me. Definitely not home anymore. Got the rental car, which was another adventure in itself, and drove to the hotel. It was alright, nothing fancy, but clean and, like I said, close to where we needed to be. We all checked in, dumped our bags, and immediately started talking about the first game.
Kicking Off: The Tournament Days
The first day of any tournament is always a bit hectic. We got up early, wolfed down some questionable hotel breakfast, and headed to the fields. Huge complex, soccer pitches everywhere. We found our field, went through the team check-in, all that admin stuff. The sun was already pretty strong.
- Our first game… man, we were rusty. You could tell we hadn’t played together in a bit. We battled though, managed to not embarrass ourselves completely. Still, we knew we had to step it up.
- Watched a few other games between ours. Some of these teams, especially the younger ones, were seriously quick. Makes you realize you’re not getting any younger, that’s for sure.
- One game, it absolutely poured down. Sideways rain, mud everywhere. We were sliding all over the place. Honestly, it was kind of miserable but also a bit of fun in a weird, old-school soccer way. You just get on with it.
- Evenings were for team dinners. We’d find a local spot, grab some food, talk about the games, what went right, what went horribly wrong. Mostly just good to hang out and have a laugh.
Beyond the Pitch
It wasn’t all just soccer, though mostly it was. I did manage to take a walk on the beach one afternoon. The sand was nice, water was still a bit too cold for me to actually jump in. We ate a fair bit of seafood. It’s a beach town, what do you expect? Nothing groundbreaking, but decent enough.
Winding Down and Heading Home
Our last game, everyone was feeling it. Legs were heavy, couple of guys nursing knocks. We played our hearts out, though. Didn’t win the tournament, not even close for our bracket this year. But for our team, it’s rarely just about winning the whole thing. It’s about the trip, playing some football, the camaraderie.
Final Thoughts on Myrtle Beach 2024
So, was it worth it? Yeah, I’d say so. It’s a well-organized tournament, lots of teams, good atmosphere. Myrtle Beach itself is clearly set up for these kinds of events. You get in, you play your games, you hang out. Simple. It’s a good excuse to get away, kick a ball around with mates. Would I do it again? Probably. If the team decides to go next year, I’ll likely be lacing up the boots again. It’s just what you do.
