FLACKWELL Heath veterans gave mighty Real Madrid a scare before losing 3-1 in their European title decider.

The Heathens over-40s played a team of former Galaticos, featuring internationals Michel and Fernando Redondo, after winning the English Umbro Over-40s Cup.

But despite it being billed as a dream trip, player boss Byron Walton said the experience had left a bitter taste in the mouth.

The 40-year-old roofer blasted Madrid for their hospitality and accused them of threatening to walk off the pitch when Flackwell tackled them.

And Walton believes his team were always up against it from the moment the Madrid team insisted on a 2pm kick-off in the burning sun.

He said: "They didn't look after us particularly well. We were meant to have somewhere set up for training.

"We ended up going over to some park."

"After the game nothing was sorted out. They didn't lay on a presentation or any food.

"They would have got a lot better looked after had they come to Flackwell Heath. It would have been nice to go all that way to at least get some sandwiches and a proper referee.

"I think it was a game they couldn't afford to lose because of the stick they would have got had they been beaten by a veterans team from Flackwell Heath.

"The way the game was done, there was little chance of us winning."

"They threatened to walk off the pitch because we were tackling them."

However, teammate and coach Tony Perry described the trip, which cost more than £12,000, as the opportunity of a lifetime and dismissed the suggestion that the Spaniards had been ungracious hosts.

He said: "Maybe there is some frustration there that some of the players thought they could win the game. We had a very good side and I think our players thought we could get a result but some of them played well below their capabilities.

"If you go to Real Madrid you are not going to get the decisions going for you. They were an incredibly fit side and it was very hot.

"A lot of their players were working and had come out at lunchtime to play the game during their siesta. They had a very tight schedule and couldn't stay afterwards.

"It was an absolutely superb trip and a fantastic experience."

Players like Kenny Glasgow, a former Flackwell player and ex-manager, didn't make the trip as the Heathens included former AC Milan striker Luther Blissett and ex-Liverpool midfielder John Wark.

The Heathens enjoyed a meal later in the Bernabeu Stadium before being invited to watch David Beckham and Ronaldo in the Real Madrid versus Athletico Bilbao game.