FINNISH TAXI DRIVERS FLY IN FOR FOOTBALL
22 November 2005 - London Taxi

A party of 22 Finnish taxi drivers has made a flying visit to London for a football match against the capital’s cabbies.

The game was a rematch of one played 30 years ago when a previous delegation from the Finnish Taxi Federation visited and beat the home side 4-2 after downing vodka instead of oranges at half time!

With 2005 being the 60th anniversary of the Helsinki-based organisation, Finnish Ambassador Mr Pertti Salolainen approached black cab driver Phil Davis, of the Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers, to arrange the long-awaited rematch.

And although the visitors again came out on top with a 3-0 win, the event cemented the links between the two groups and gave the Finns the chance to check out the latest LTI Vehicles TXII London cabs, a number of which were parked at the Ilford Football ground, in Essex, for the match.

''It was a really nice occasion, thoroughly enjoyed by us all – despite the result!'' said Phil, who also organised the recent taxi drivers outing to Disneyland Paris for more than 180 sick children.

''The Finns were really interested to have a good look over the London taxis and went away with lots of information about them. They seemed really impressed.

''They wanted to test drive them but there was a time factor and we didn’t get round to that unfortunately.

''We have a great ‘entente cordial’ between us now. They want the next match to be in 2035 but we’ll have to see about that!''

Nearly 100 people turned out to watch the game and a buffet was laid on for players and families after the final whistle had gone.

LTI Vehicles, based in Coventry, is one of only two UK manufacturers of purpose-built, fully-wheelchair-accessible taxis.

www.lti.co.uk

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