Manchester United Soccer Schools welcomed 56 budding young footballers to Old Trafford and Carrington training ground last weekend…

Manchester United Soccer Schools welcomed 56 budding young footballers to Old Trafford and Carrington training ground last weekend, as reward for impressing on the courses they took in 2011.

One player from each of the development courses held across the United Kingdom and Ireland were invited to play on the famous Manchester United pitch, to tour Old Trafford and then take part in a training session at the club’s elite youth Academy.

Each year the top performers on each course (for 6-16 year olds, boys and girls) are rewarded with a visit to the home of the Reds, with places awarded for not only football ability but also attitude and good discipline.

“This is a reward for these kids who we’ve seen on our courses across the UK and Ireland over the last 12 months,” said program manager Mike Neary. “We’ve picked them on how they’ve performed on the field and how they’ve got on with each other. They’ve been the ambassadors, if you like, of the Soccer Schools on the courses. So to be able to bring them here and let them play on the pitch is obviously a great reward for them.”

Among the budding youngsters to take to the Old Trafford turf, following in the footsteps of the likes of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney, were Carl Batchelor (16) from Stoke-on-Trent and Sam Poyner (12) from Blackwood, Gwent.

“The coaches on my course told me they’d selected me because I was good at football but also because I was kind to people, if someone got injured I’d stop and make sure they were alright,” said Carl.

“Playing at Old Trafford was amazing. I’m a Stoke fan but my dad is a Man United fan. I was trying to imagine what is must be like playing when the ground is full of fans, how loud it must be. Getting to see the training ground was amazing, too.”

Sam, from South Wales, is a United fan and was at Old Trafford in April to see Rooney’s goal of the season (his overhead kick) against Manchester City. He was thrilled to be able to play on the same pitch as the Reds striker.

“I was excited to be picked as the player for the course in Newport [South Wales]. Then we got a letter saying that we had won the chance to come to Old Trafford and train on the pitch,” said Sam. “It was amazing. The grass was so perfect that it looked like fake grass, it felt lush. I had to touch it to see if it was real. We did ball control, and I enjoyed everything about it. The stands were really big and I looked up and saw my mum waving.”

Program manager Mike Neary said that the aim of the day was to make sure the youngsters savoured every moment out on the OT pitch. He said: “We wanted them to soak up the experience and enjoy themselves. So we put them through a passing and control session. They can receive the ball, pass it, dribble with it, pretend to be Paul Scholes or Ryan Giggs. We really wanted them to go out on that famous pitch and think about their heroes and try to be like them.

“There’s smiles on their faces and that’s great to see. It’s really rewarding as coaches to see their faces light up when they step out there. It’s one of the big days of the year for the Soccer Schools and it’s a once in a lifetime experience for them.”

Champion day out for youngsters

20TH MAY 2011

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