And so it begins...

Our story begins in Jayapura, 20kms outside of Mysore; a tranquil, pastoral idyll that's home to field base. With the arrival of the advanced team earlier this week, this scene of rural loveliness has been swept up by a monsoon of activity. Preparations are now well underway for an expedition as epic, inspiring and emotionally charged as any World Cup. But first things first, let's say namaskara to the team:

Raleigh Rovers

Goalkeeper

Our safe pair of hands is Jenny, logistics manager

Interesting fact: Jenny has been on expedition twice already. She got back from Costa Rica in the middle of May and this, her second adventure in India, will complete her Raleigh hat-trick.

Luxury item: “Olive oil, balsamic vinegar and Green and Blacks chocolate – the airline had a massive baggage allowance so I decided to load my bag with goodies from home.”

Motto: “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” Proust

Tip for World Cup glory: “Let’s just say the fact that the expedition overlaps with the World Cup is a happy coincidence.”

Defence

Logistics coordinators Pete and Robin are the backbone of our team

Pete

Interesting fact: Since 1994, Pete has run the London marathon thirteen times and the New York and Venice marathons once. Not content with that, he recently completed the UK Ironman triathlon in 487th place finishing in 12 hours 41 minutes!

Luxury item: “My Swiss Army knife, which I’ve had since I was 16. It has a toothpick and tweezers - I hope I don't lose it.”

Motto: “Whether you believe you can, or you can’t, you are right.” Henry Ford

Tip for World Cup glory: “Argentina.”

Robin

Interesting fact: Robin was once in a Bon Jovi cover band.

Luxury item: “A chrome shaving set but I’ve decided to grow a beard, so it’s pretty pointless.”

Motto: “Always bring a hammock.”

Tip for World Cup glory: “Ingerland...or Switzerland.”

Midfield

Orchestrating the passage of play are Anita, finance manager, and Neelima, administrator.

Anita

Interesting fact: Anita is a member of the Guernsey Glees and sings alto.

Luxury item: “Half a bar of Cadbury’s Dairy Milk.”

Motto: “A job worth doing is a job worth doing well” (So says Anita’s Mum.)

Tip for World Cup glory: “I don’t care.”

 Neelima

Interesting fact: Neelima was recently a host country venturer on the 10C expedition.

Luxury item: “My diary.”

Motto: “Not particularly, I like Clare’s though.”

Tip for World Cup glory: “Someone needs to teach me how to play football first.”

Attack

Focused and leading from the front, it’s our medics, Louise and Clare.

Louise (left) and Clare (right)

Interesting fact: On Louise’s first trip to Africa, her Mum gave her a surprise present: an enormous paper bag filled with condoms. Louise is still not sure why or what her Mum expected her to do with them. (Louise gave them to a local HIV/AIDS clinic anyway.)

Luxury Item: “Lots of books.”

Motto: "Feel the fear and do it anyway."

Tip for World Cup glory: “England but only because Scotland didn’t qualify.”

Clare

Interesting fact: Clare has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and Everest Base Camp!

Luxury item: “My iPod.”

Motto: “If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain." Dolly Parton

Tip for World Cup glory: “Not bothered who wins but could someone explain the offside rule to me.”

Team Mascot

Representing Raleigh Rovers is Marie, communications officer

Interesting fact: Marie is a mezzo-soprano.

Luxury item: “My Sony Walkman but actually I’d love to have my rucksack, which was last seen in Heathrow...”

Motto: “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” Soren Kierkegaard

Tip for World Cup glory: “Ingerland – definitely not France.”

So following that thrilling introduction be sure to check back often for exclusive stories, photos and videos lifting the lid on expedition life and leave us messages too. We'd really like that.