This is the story of a travel advisor and his soccer boots. Boots he took with him on his first trip to Europe and trained with whatever club he happened across. Boots that were witness to not only his wins and losses but also the determination that fuelled his working life in travel. But this is also the story of the lessons that this man learned off the pitch. Tales of his great-grandfather’s time on the battlefield. Tales of honour and integrity that make David Wright a great travel advisor. This is his story.
It was Christmas Eve, 1914, four months into what would become World War I. Carols were heard behind enemy lines before greetings were called out over the trenches. It was the Christmas Truce, when, for a short time, enemies laid down their weapons in the spirit of the season. And it ended with a game of soccer.
To David Wright, the Managing Director of Travel Prospects, soccer is one of the great unifiers. And that’s despite his undying love for Manchester United.
“It’s the world’s game,” he tells Karryon.
He talks of being able to chat to complete strangers from all over the world about a sport that, regardless of whom you support (as long as it isn’t Arsenal), connects us. Even during times of war.
David has been handling World Cup and European football packages continuously since 1994. He also created the original AFL Crows Travel, and wasthe inaugural Manager of the AFL Power Travel Agency.
“Sell what you know,” he says.
“Be it sports travel or music-themed travel, sell what you know, because your interest and knowledge will help sell the packages,” he says.
For the love of the game
“When I first went to Europe I took my boots with me,” David says.
“And wherever I was I walked up to the club and told them I was from Australia and asked to train with them. And this Danish club wanted me to stay and keep training.”
If he’d kept training with them, David’s life could very well be different. But soccer still features large for David.
David started playing soccer in high school before playing in the local German club. And, when he turned 18 and decided to travel to Europe, soccer was his in. As was his passion for history.
“If the town didn’t have a football club or a castle or a battlefield I didn’t stop there,” he says.
A family affair
David has direct family links to the Somme battlefields. His great-grandmother was from Villers-Bretonneux and it was here that she met his great-grandfather who was serving in the area.
“My great grandfather, like many, went off to the First World War. And apart from his winning a few medals and so on, he married a local French girl from Villers-Bretonneux.”
An Australian flag still flies over the town today. And a town hall plaque remembers the events of a night 105 years ago:
“Twelve hundred Australian soldiers…gave their lives in the heroic recapture of this town from the invader on 24th April 1918 and are buried near this spot. May the memory of great sacrifices in a common cause keep France and Australia together forever in bonds of friendship and mutual esteem.”
David’s great-grandfather eventually returned to Australia with his new wife. And on David’s first and subsequent visits to Europe he connected with his family and their stories.
“When people are booking their travels to the Somme or Flanders with me, it’s personal,” says David. “It’s not just a sale.”
“This is family to me. This is where my great-grandmother came from and where my great-grandfather served.”
The personal touch
Inspired by his great-grandfather’s stories, David understood that the true measure of a person is their honour.
“Honour is important to me,” David tells Karryon.
In his rare spare time, David paints toy soldiers. On a tour of Ypres with Flanders Tourism, he stopped at a little cafe bar and, after chatting to the owners, promised to bring over a display of his soldiers on his next visit. He delivered.
When he sends groups to Ypres and they too stop in for dinner, not only do they get to see these figures, but David, who has pre-painted figures for everyone on the tour, sends one home with them.
“And usually when I’ve got a tour going – I pull out even more specialty inclusions!”
It’s touches like these that make the difference, says David. Because for those on these tours, it’s about more than just seeing a pretty place. There’s history here and for many, it’s pretty personal too.
