THE ELITE TEAM TOUR GREAT BRITAIN OFFERED YEAR ROUND Tour Overview: The Elite Team Tour is the pinnacle of the Challenger World Tours program and is designed for the very best boys and girls teams from North America aiming towards Olympic Development programs and state championship level teams. It is focused on offering a highly competitive playing environment for talented and serious players and teams playing against Academy, Center of Excellence or Area Representative Teams from some of Great Britain s professional clubs. Examples of teams that we have played against in the past include: Manchester United F.C. Liverpool F.C. Everton F.C. Manchester City F.C. Charlton Athletic F.C. Tranmere Rovers F.C. Stoke City F.C. Wigan Athletic F.C. Leicester City F.C. Aston Villa F.C. Preston North End F.C. Queens Park Rangers F.C. Crystal Palace F.C. Burnley F.C. Blackpool F.C. Welsh, Scottish and English Schoolboy teams Tour Destination 1 - London Spend three days in the Capital City of England. Take a professional guided tour of London to see sights such as: Buckingham Palace Tower of London London Bridge Big Ben London Eye Trafalgar Square Harrods etc. Ride the British Airways London Eye Visit and tour Stamford Bridge the home of Chelsea FC. Tour Destination 2 North West of England Stay in Chester a historical 2,000 year old Roman city. Training sessions throughout the tour with Professional Clubs and coaching staff. Visit Anfield the home of Liverpool FC. Sightseeing in the cities of London, Liverpool, Manchester and Chester. Visit Conwy Castle in North Wales. Entrance into a live professional soccer match.
The Elite Team Soccer Tour Great Britain 2009 The Elite Team Tour is the pinnacle of the Challenger World Tours program and is designed for the very best boys and girls teams from North America aiming towards Olympic Development programs and state championship level teams. It is focused on offering a highly competitive playing environment for talented and serious players and teams playing against Academy, Center of Excellence or Area Representative teams from some of Great Britain s professional clubs. The Elite Team Tour spends the first three days of the tour in the capital city of London immersed in the history of great clubs like Arsenal Football Club, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, Charlton Athletic Football Club and Chelsea Football Club before heading north to the hotbed of British Soccer, the North-West of England, where two of Britain s powerhouses Liverpool Football Club and present Premiership Champions Manchester United FC, reside. Teams that we have had the opportunity to compete against in previous years have included Manchester United F.C., Liverpool F.C., Everton F.C., Bolton Wanderers F.C., Manchester City F.C., Aston Villa F.C., Burnley F.C., Tranmere Rovers F.C., Blackpool F.C., Preston North End F.C., Crystal Palace F.C., Queens Park Rangers F.C., Leicester City F.C., Stoke City F.C., Wigan Athletic F.C. and Wrexham F.C. as well as representative sides from the English, Scottish and Welsh Schoolboys Football Association s. This tour is offered year round. Day 1: North America ~ London, England Friday Itinerary offered year round Depart North America on a scheduled transatlantic flight to London, England.
Day 2: Arrival in London Tour of Stamford Bridge (home of Chelsea F.C.) Hotel Check In Saturday - Itinerary offered year round Arrive in London (over night flight) at either London Heathrow or London Gatwick airport, board your private bus and transfer to the home of Chelsea Football Club for a tour of Stamford Bridge and surrounding Chelsea Village. The Chelsea Football Club Tour will give you an amazing behind the scenes look of one of the largest football stadium in London with a fun, exciting and interactive experience. The fully guided tour will take you into the refurbished home dressing rooms, allow a fascinating insight into how the squad prepares for home games and let you view your favorite player s kit for an unforgettable photo opportunity. Whether it s England heroes John Terry and Frank Lampard, flying Dutchman Arjen Robben or Goalkeeper Peter Cech, you ll be spoilt for choice! Following the tour of the stadium spend time in the Chelsea Football Club museum. This museum was opened as 'The Centenary Museum', built to commemorate the centenary year of 'The Blues'. This fantastic, all new visitor attraction pays tribute to the past 100 years of the Stamford Bridge side, with a host of exhibits, sights and sounds for Chelsea fans, young and old to enjoy. Following your day in London transfer to your 3-4 stars London based hotel. This hotel in the past has been the Britannia International hotel located in Canary Wharf, which is famous as the financial district of London. Dinner will be taken at the hotel followed by a tour meeting and then early to bed. Day 3: Professional sightseeing tour of the Capital Free time in London Travel on the London Eye Sunday Itinerary offered year round Following breakfast we will take in a guided tour of London. A professional Blue Badge guide leads this tour starting at St. Paul s Cathedral and the Tower Of London (and Tower Bridge) and then to the embankment of the River Thames and the London Eye. The route will cover Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Downing Street, Horse Guard Parade, The Royal Mall, Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square. Following lunch spend a free afternoon sightseeing and shopping in London. Visit Harrods and the famous Knightsbridge District in London, sightseeing back in the Embankment area of London or head off to Lilywhites, which is a six story mega shopping store and is one of the largest sports/soccer retailers in Great Britain. In the early evening we will then head off to take in the London Eye. The British Airways London Eye is the world's largest observation wheel. Take in over 55 of London's most famous landmarks in just 30 minutes! Dinner will be served back at the Hotel.
Day 4: Professional Training Session Free afternoon in London Game #1 Monday Itinerary offered year round Following breakfast at the hotel we will take in a training session with a professional London Club, in the past this has been Charlton Athletic Football Club. This will give the players the opportunity to prepare for their upcoming matches. The actual coach, club and location of this training session is always subject to change depending upon availability. Following lunch there will be the chance for free time in London for further sightseeing, shopping or opportunities to visit specific sights. GAME #1 of the tour will be played in the late afternoon/ early evening against a professional youth team, area representative team, a school team or a local club team from the London area. The specific opposition will be dependent upon availability at the point of group registration and level of play of traveling team. Dinner will be served back at the Hotel following the game. Day 5: Transfer to Chester Stratford upon Avon - Evening Training Session Tuesday Itinerary offered year round Following breakfast at the hotel we will check out and head north towards Chester and the North West of England stopping off at Stratford-upon-Avon on route for lunch. Stratford-upon-Avon was the birthplace of William Shakespeare; it is steeped in culture and history. Set in the beautiful rural Warwickshire countryside, on the banks of the river Avon, it is one of the most important tourist destinations in the UK. Nearby Warwick and the Cotswold s make this an ideal location, from which to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and traditional warm English hospitality. Discover William Shakespeare, the greatest playwright of all time and gain an insight into his family, houses, work and ties with Stratford. We will then arrive at Chester and check into our accommodation at Chester. Accommodation will be half board (breakfast and dinner) and will be at a Chester based hotel. After settling in we will take a leisurely stroll into town to explore the cultural surroundings. Dinner will be served in the hotel followed by an evening coaching session at nearby Chester College. This facility has both outdoor fields and an astro-turf facility accessible for games and training sessions.
Day 6: Professional Training Session Sightseeing in Chester Game #2 Wednesday Itinerary offered year round Following breakfast at the hotel the team will get to experience the unique atmosphere surrounding one of the most famous sports franchises in the world - Manchester United and its Theatre Of Dreams. The tour will start in the Museum Center, a new showpiece museum full of exhibits of the great history and triumphs of Manchester United. Teams will see the splendid trophy display, the legends' gallery and the new interactive Computer Games Room. The tour will then take you into the stadium to view the magnificent Theatre of Dreams and you will visit the player s locker room. Next stop is the fantastic Manchester United Megastore the world s largest club soccer store. Following lunch we will head to Chester. Chester: Chester is one of two cities in England (the other being York) that is still surrounded by its original Roman walls. Chester is a 2,000-year-old city, which is awash with history and heritage and famed around the world for its unforgettable half-timbered buildings. Even though the city has a gentle medieval air, its foundations are Roman. There is a large Roman amphitheatre and old Roman walls that surround the city. Notable landmarks are the gorgeous cathedral, with its own 900 year history, and the Victorian East gate clock, which is one of the most photographed timepieces, after Big Ben in London. Players and parents can walk the entire length of the city walls, (a 2 mile jaunt), spend time on the banks of the River Dee, or spend time shopping in the unique two-tier Rows galleries. We will play Game #2 of the tour in the late afternoon/early evening against one of the North West professional clubs. The specific opposition will be dependent upon availability at the point of group registration. Dinner will be served at the hotel following the game. Day 7: Visit Conway Castle and North Wales Game #3 Thursday Itinerary offered year round Breakfast at the hotel then head out to North Wales to visit Conway Castle and North Wales. Words cannot do justice to Conway Castle and the North Wales district. The best, simple description is found in the guidebook published by CADW, the Welsh Historic Trust, which states: "Conway is by any standards one of the great fortresses of medieval Europe." Conway along with Harlech is probably the most impressive of all the Welsh castles. Both were designed by Edward I's master castle builder James of St. George. Conway's well-preserved wall helps the town maintain a medieval character lost by other Welsh castle-towns over the years.
Construction of Conway began in 1283. The castle was an important part of King Edward I's plan of surrounding Wales in "an iron ring of castles" to subdue the rebellious population. In the late afternoon/early evening play Game #3 of the tour will be played against a professional youth team, an area representative team, a school team or a local club team from the North West of England area. The specific opposition will be dependent upon availability at the point of group registration and the level of team traveling. Then travel back to Chester in time for dinner at the hotel. Day 8: Professional Training Session Tour the home of Bolton Wanderers Football Club Game #4 Friday Itinerary offered year round Breakfast at the hotel then a free morning in Chester. Following lunch head out for a training session with one of the local professional club teams. In the past this has been with Bolton Wanderers Football Club. Following the training session we will tour the home of Bolton Wanderers Football Club, The Reebok Stadium which is a state of the art Premiership ground. Here you will get a behind the scenes look at the dressing rooms, pitch side and the post game player s lounge. Evening meal at the hotel. Day 9: Game #4 Professional Match Saturday Itinerary offered year round Travel back to the hotel for evening meal and final meeting of the tour. Breakfast at the hotel. We will play GAME #4 in the morning against a professional youth team from the North West of England area. The specific opposition will be dependent upon availability at the point of group registration and the level of the team traveling.. In the afternoon attend a professional match with one of the local North West clubs (specific teams and games will be dependant upon availability). Day 10: Manchester, England ~ North America Sunday Itinerary offered year round Check out and transfer to Manchester airport for return flight back to North America.
Please note: This is a sample itinerary and actual events may vary or can tailored dependent upon certain requests from your group, please be aware that this alteration to the itinerary may in some way alter the final cost for the tour. Challenger Sports and Challenger World Tours may in its absolute discretion make changes to, or cancel any section of the above mentioned tour, should circumstances beyond the company s control make such actions necessary. These include: inappropriate weather conditions, schedule changes, advertised facilities not available, transportation problems and failure of other suppliers of services or goods to the company. If the above occurs then Challenger World Tours will attempt to substitute the changed section of the tour to an equal or better standard. Challenger Flight Option: All groups have the option to book their own flights or to book their travel arrangements through Challenger World Tours. We will work with our travel agent to get you the lowest group airline rate we can. These prices will obviously be subject to availability as well as city of departure and date of travel etc. Please be aware that if booking your own flights, you will be responsible for all ground transportation until meeting up with the group in the UK.
2009 ELITE TEAM SOCCER TOUR 10-day tour: Offered Year Round. London, Chester, Liverpool, Manchester Price based on a minimum of 20 paying travelers: TOUR COST FROM = $1,795 USD per Traveler WHAT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR TOUR PACKAGE? One FREE place for each paying 20 travelers (can be used for Coach, Team Manager, Players or Parents) airfare will be included if flights are booked through Challenger World Tours. 3 nights at a 3-4 star London hotel (half board - breakfast and dinner). 5 nights at a 3-4 star Chester hotel (half board - breakfast and dinner). Private chartered bus throughout duration of the tour. 4 x matches against Academy, Center of Excellence or Area Representative Teams. 2 x training sessions at professional clubs located throughout England Tour of Stamford Bridge - home of Chelsea Football Club. Tour of the Theatre of Dreams - home of Manchester United Football Club. Tour of the Reebok Stadium - home of Bolton Wanderers Football Club. Entrance into a professional match (actual team s dependant upon availability). Entrance onto the British Airways London Eye. Visit to Conway Castle in North Wales. Full sightseeing (blue badge) tour of London by professional tour guide. Opportunities to visit London, Chester, Manchester, Liverpool and North Wales. Option to purchase Travel Insurance through Challenger World Tours. Flight options available through Challenger World Tours for group travel. Challenger Travel Package (tour t-shirt, sack pack and travel binder). Challenger Travel Director to accompany the group throughout the tour. WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR TOUR PACKAGE? Airfares and departure taxes. Lunches (suggest $15 per day). Optional activities/excursions not listed in itinerary. All tour costs are calculated in local currency at present exchange at time of group registration (presently calculated at $1.60 US dollars to one British pound). Please be aware that certain costs may alter due to a change in this rate and thus affect the final cost of the tour. Challenger World Tours 1850 Lake Park Drive, Suite 105, Smyrna, GA 30080 Phone: 800-739-9441 or 770-434-5226 Fax: 770-434-5227 Email: abennett@challengersports.com Website: www.challengersports.com/tours