Boat takes strain for FA Cup (From Penarth Times)

Boat takes strain for FA Cup

PENARTH played its part in the FA Cup final when a local speedboat company took the match ball to the Millennium Stadium!

While Arsenal and Southampton were eagerly anticipating the big game, the ball was being flown and ferried across the country.

When it arrived in Penarth, Bay Island Voyages took the ball across to the stadium in their twin engined speedboat, which is capable of travelling at 75mph.

The boat's owner, Michael Nicholson of St Augustine's Road, Penarth, said: "It was a great honour for us as a company to have taken such a prestigious cargo.

"My wife Patricia and I have only been in business for a year, so this is great accolade for us."

The ball was safely transported to the stadium by Sky Sports' Soccer AM presenter Tim Lovejoy along with eight other lucky travellers in a journey that only took a matter of minutes.

Mr Nicholson told the Times how the unusual task came about.

He said: "Mitre, the makers of the FA Cup football, were in the area and were searching for an alternative way to carry the ball to the final.

"They were looking for a spectacular boat and the Harbour Authority recommended our craft."

Mitre Spokesman Mike McCallum said: "It all went well and we were very pleased with the result.

We were looking for alternative ways to convey the ball and it seemed the logical explanation to go by boat as the stadium is next to a river."

The speedboat is used all the year round for taking people on sightseeing tours to both Flatholme and Steepholme islands.

Former Penarth lifeboat crewmember Mr Nicholson said: "I lost my job at the steel works in Cardiff and have always been a seafarer so we set this up.

At the moment the business is going very well.

"Now my son Richard is training and will join me on the boat to drive as a skipper."