BYFA European Tour 2013

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1 29 th December Tour Summary by Gordon Tulloch The planning for this 2013 European, started in November 2012, when John Reid approached me about running a tour to Real Madrid and Manchester. I d been content with all my previous tours, to Sheffield and London. After some thought and knew that there was a link between Sheffield FC and Real Madrid CF as they are the only two clubs in the world with a FIFA order of merit. In 2007 FIFA officially celebrated Sheffield FC as the Oldest Football club 150 th Year and Real Madrid decorated the Most Successful club over the last 100 years. Then the Manchester City Connection was pretty straight forward, as Scott Sellers the Academy Manager, started his coaching development at Sheffield United, we had met up many times with my tours to Sheffield, with Scott conducting many of the sessions. He was pleased; we were interested bringing a group to Manchester. Also both Manchester City and Real Madrid had both just won their respective leagues, the Premier League and The Liga. Training and mixing with the Coaches from the world s most successful club Real Madrid CF

2 BYFA Players dress into Real Madrid Kit Part of the Real Madrid Centre Once we confirmed the European football tour, the rest fell into place, with 30 players quickly signing up including 5 Goal Keepers. This was a very good size forming two teams, 8 weeks out from departure the squads trained together for us to get a team structure in attack and defense, including the players getting to know each other, we found these sessions were important for the success of the tour. From when the tour departed, the boys were fantastic and bonded very quickly as a group, plus the two squads kept getting stronger, as the tour progressed, they were very competitive in their games. The teams were very competitive in Spain even though we lost our matches. All the training sessions and games in Spain, including goalkeeping sessions, prepared the Group better for the UK part, as the teams started to play more as a unit and for each other. In England our teams were outstanding against the Academies all tight games, John and I were very pleased with the performances of all the players. In Real Madrid the Coaches were very surprised at the high standard of the Players, enabling them to do very advance sessions, they were impressed with the boy s attitudes to do well and learn. This was also the same case in England, with all the academy coaches commenting, that they were impressed with our standard. Outside the Spanish National Centre Training with Spanish National Coaches To put the tour content into perspective the group attended 13 training sessions, 6 in Madrid, 3 at Manchester City, 3 in Sheffield and 1 at Charlton. Due to the boys been tired we decided to cancelled 2 sessions to enable them to play the games. The players

3 played between 7 to 8 games, then watched 7 professional matches. The Clubs we visited, to train, play matches, watch matches and or just a visit, a total of 18 Professional and semi professional Clubs, Real Madrid, Athletico Madrid, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Manchester City, Manchester United, Hull FC, Stoke FC, Reading FC, Charlton Athletic, Everton FC, Liverpool, Chelsea FC and Reading FC. Sheffield FC, Dartford FC, Las Rozas FC, Sanse FC and Colmenar Viejo FC. Training With Mike Haughton at Manchester City On top of this we did a Tour of Madrid, Toledo, London, the Spanish National Football Museum, and a Visit to the Sheffield Lord Mayor. We visited 5 countries even though some, only the Airport, Singapore, UEA, Belgium, Spain and England. O I forgot the Shopping, in Madrid, Toledo, Meadowhall, Trafford Centre, and Blue Waters. Visiting Sheffield for me is returning to the home of football, as Sheffield FC are the founders of our game as the world first Football Club and find the people make it the Friendliest City. Also Visiting the Lord Mayor of Sheffield is always very interesting. We always visit Sheffield FC grounds and play their junior teams at Gosforth Park they have an excellent 3G surface, for an amateur Club. Both Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday Academies are very accommodating with our players, majority of the Players getting to meet some of the Coaching in our Sheffield Camps, so its catching up with friends, they also get to interact with the academy players in training sessions or Games. This experience gives the players an excellent guideline where they are with their football.

4 There were two surprises on tour, the group getting to meet and have a photo with Vicente del Bosque the Spanish National Coach, who has won a World cup and two European Cups. After all my years of traveling to the UK and visiting Big Ben, the House of Parliament and Westminster Abbey, even though it was a few seconds to physically see the Queen drive by. John and Gordon with Vicente del Bosque The Group with the Master Goal Keepers This is an excellent tour for Goal Keepers as we included several Goal Keeping session s, in Madrid the Goal Keepers did 4 Sessions, during the sessions were pulled in and out of the Small sided games with Goals, while the GK coach continue with the smaller group, this was very well structured. Then on Tour the Goalkeepers, get to apply themselves in the Games. Jarryd Pollock with AKA the Real Madrid GK Coach

5 Training/Trials We had 3 players from the tour, invited to stay on longer to train/trial at Charlton Athletic, Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United, a huge experience for these players to train/trial with the Academy players. William Eaton who attends our BYFA Private Coaching and our Sheffield Camps, in the June/July holiday s, was talent identified by the Sheffield Coaches at our 2013 Sheffield Camp and was offered a 6 weeks trial, from the Camp. William toured with the group and would have gained confidence from the tour content, for his six week trial, we wish him all the best. Jarryd Pollock will be staying on with Charlton Athletic FC in January 2014, we wish him all the best. Cameron Holzheimer was offered to stay on a Sheffield United, but unfortunately end up getting sick and was unable to continue. Parents looking for a Football Tour in 2014 We run one tour to Europe a year, with the tours main focus, player development. From the training session s prior the tour departure and during the tour, you can physically see the development and improvement of the players as the tour progresses. If you are looking for a tour focused on player development, at some of the world s best clubs. We believe this tour is definitely is value for money spent, you will see this from our 2013 tour Itinerary. We were very pleased to receive so many positive comments and letters and gifts from the Parents of Players attending our 2013 tour, with several now making enquires to go again on our 2014 tour. If you wish to sign up for our 2014 European Football Tour, please Contact Gordon Tulloch on , gctulloch@bigpond.com Web Site: