Shoreline FC Soccer Trip 2018 Liverpool, England Saturday April 7 th Sunday April 15 th 2018
Day 1: Sunday April 8 th 2018 Departing the US on Saturday April 7 th, our 32-person group (Shoreline s first trip with boys & girls) landed bright and early in the UK to begin their International Soccer Trip adventure! First stop, the Ramada Hotel, Southport for a Full-English breakfast then a walk to stretch the legs along the pier and around the town. Afterwards, it was back to the hotel to change and head out to game one of the trip, 7-hours after landing!!! Game one pitted BOTH our boys and girls against Euxton Villa. A very welcoming club, with great facilities and worthy opponents. Shoreline FC boys won 4-1, whilst the girls won 4-2. After the game, our hospitable hosts catered a reception for us in their clubhouse. What a great way to kick off the trip!! Thank you so much Euxton Villa. Then it was back to the hotel for a traditional English roast dinner before an early night to recharge the jetlagged batteries.
Day 1: Sunday April 8 th 2018 Quiet before the storm! First Full English Breakfast
Day 1: Sunday April 8 th 2018 Game One Shoreline FC Boys 4 1 Euxton Villa
Day 1: Sunday April 8 th 2018 Game One Shoreline FC Girls 4 2 Euxton Villa
Day 2: Monday April 9 th 2018 After a good nights sleep, we headed into Liverpool too our 5-day training venue; The Liverpool County FA Ground. Each day, our players received a 2-hour training session delivered by Shoreline FC s; Matt Ellis and Danny Simpson. These sessions were progressive and heavily influenced on attacking play. Our goalkeepers also received specialized keeper training each day to develop their skills. After lunch, we welcomed its second opponent of the trip to the LFA County ground; Rainhill United. Another new friend to Shoreline FC and a long standing club in the area. The game was played in a co-ed 11v11 format. Our players really took on board our earlier training session and ran out worthy winners 6 0. After another traditional English dinner (braised steak puff-pastry pie), the players got some social time to unwind before wearily retiring to bed in preparation for another full day of football. A great day for these young warriors.
Day 2: Monday April 9 th 2018 Training Session One Field Players: 1 st Touch & Accurate Passing Goalkeepers: Up/Down Body & 1-Step Saves
Day 2: Monday April 9 th 2018 Game Two Shoreline FC 6-0 Rainhill United
Day 3: Tuesday April 10 th 2018 After another successful training session played in the rain (rain in England??), we headed back to the hotel for lunch before embarking on a shopping trip to Southport s Sports Direct, JD Sports and an old fashioned English sweet shop! After a light dinner, we boarded the coach and headed to Bolton Wanderers impressive Macron Stadium for our first LIVE game of the trip; English Championship League Game:- Bolton Wanderers v Millwall FC. With Bolton battling relegation and Millwall pushing for a top 6 playoff place, this game was not for the faint hearted! Millwall ran out winners 2-0 with goals from Elliot & Marshall. Afterwards, it was straight back to the hotel for our players to retire to bed and prepare for the next day. Come on you Lions!.
Day 3: Tuesday April 10 th 2018 Training Session Two Field Players: Shooting / Finishing Crosses Goalkeepers: Shot Stopping / Narrowing Angles from Crosses
Day 3: Tuesday April 10 th 2018 LIVE English Championship League Macron Stadium, Bolton Bolton Wanderers 0 2 Millwall (Elliott & Marshall)
Day 4: Wednesday April 11 th 2018 Day four began with another 2-hr training session, lunch and then it was off to Anfield; home to Liverpool FC. We began with a trip down memory lane in the club museum before embarking on a 90-minute Anfield stadium tour that incorporated their brand new stand, state-of-the-art home dressing room, the home team dugout before concluding at the world famous Spion Kop. VERY impressive! After our stadium tour, it was straight into the NEW club megastore for a bit of LFC shopping!! We headed back to the Liverpool County FA Ground for our annual tradition of honoring The George Tuck Memorial Game on their stadium field (freshly cut and lined for the occasion). With George s daughter Julie present, Our opponents for the evening were Shoreline FC Girls v Remyca Girls & Shoreline FC Boys v Marshall s FC. We couldn t be more proud of how our players have responded all week in training and applied themselves in the games. Today was no exception. Against strong opposition, BOTH our Shoreline FC girls & boys won 4 0! There really was some fantastic football played. Fitting games to honor George Tuck s legacy. Then back to the hotel for some Shepherd s Pie and bed!
Day 4: Wednesday April 11 th 2018 Training Session Three Field Players: Striking the ball / Shooting from Crosses Goalkeepers: Power Step Saves
Day 4: Wednesday April 11 th 2018 Anfield Stadium Tour
Day 4: Wednesday April 11 th 2018 Game Three: George Tuck Memorial Shoreline FC Girls 4-0 Remyca Girls
Day 4: Wednesday April 11 th 2018 Game Three: George Tuck Memorial Shoreline FC Boys 4-0 Marshall FC
Day 5: Thursday April 12 th 2018 Through tired eyes, the players embarked on another impressive 2-hr training session. Everyday they turned up with a thirst for knowledge and bags of energy! As the training session wound down, we snuck off to our favorite chippy in Liverpool; Byrnes Chip Shop and brought back authentic English Fish n Chips as a treat for the players and parents for all their hard work; delicious! After lunch, we were joined on the coach by a Liverpool Tour Guide who showed us the house where John Lennon grew up, where he and Paul McCartney met, the grave of Eleanor Rigby, Strawberry Fields (famous Beatle songs), toured the Albert Dock and of course, went to visit the Cavern Club; the birth place of the Beatles. Later that evening after a fabulous Chicken Curry dinner, we headed across the road to a traditional English pub; The Victoria to watch the Europa League ¼ final game: CSKA Moscow v Arsenal FC in their function room. WHAT A GAME!! Great team bonding and a chance for the parents to let their hair down a little. Thank you Steve for all your hospitality.
Day 5: Thursday April 12 th 2018 Training Session Four Field Players: Combination Play Goalkeepers: Crosses / Catching / Punching
Day 5: Thursday April 12 th 2018 Byrnes Fish n Chips Lunch
Day 5: Thursday April 12 th 2018 City of Liverpool Tour
Day 6: Friday April 13 th 2018 Heading into Liverpool for our last training session of the week, the players were a bit melancholy? They couldn t believe how fast the trip was going. True to form, they pushed themselves hard through the session. What a week! After some heart felt goodbyes, it was back to the hotel for lunch and an afternoon off!! The players enjoyed their downtime catching up on homework, crazy golf, shopping with the chaperones and relaxing. After another delicious roast dinner, the group headed off down the pier to the bowling alley for bowling and fun activities. MANY returned with cuddly toys, but ALL returned with a smile! As the group was bonding so well and enjoying each others company, they stayed up later in the lobby-lounge before heading to bed for the last stretch of the trip. Time flies when you are having fun!
Day 6: Friday April 13 th 2018 Training Session Five Field Players: Switching Play Goalkeepers: Feet Distribution
Day 6: Friday April 13 th 2018 Bowling Night
Day 7: Saturday April 14 th 2018 After a late breakfast, the group set to work packing up their cases in lieu of leaving the following day. Not an easy task after such great shopping expeditions!! At noon, we headed off to Turf Moor for our second LIVE game of the trip; English Premier League game; Burnley FC v Leicester FC Turf Moor has been Burley s home since 1883 (a unbroken service league record) Burnley ran out winners 2-1. After the game, it was back to the hotel for our banquet meal (chosen by the players & parents) and plenty of people to thank. A perfect way to round off another great trip and a total footballing experience. WHAT A TRIP!!!
Day 7: Saturday April 14 th 2018 LIVE English Premier League Turf Moor Stadium, Burnley Burnley FC 2 1 Leicester City (Burnley: Wood, Long, Leicester: Vardy)
Day 8: Sunday April 15 th 2018 The alarm clock sounded at 8:15am with breakfast at 8:30am. We bid farewell to the hotel and headed for Manchester airport. The journey home was a safe one. By evening, all players were back in the clutches of their families with stories of the trip retold like returning conquerors from far off lands!! MANY thanks to all that made the trip a success. In the days, weeks and months to follow, the players will no doubt reflect on what an unbelievable soccer trip they had just experienced; FIRST-CLASS Hotel Accommodation FIRST-CLASS UK Bus Transportation FIRST CLASS & PROFESSIONAL Training / Game Facilities FIVE FULL Training Sessions with Matt Ellis & Danny Simpson ONE LIVE English Premier League Game Attended ONE LIVE English Championship League Game Attended FIVE FULL Games Against Quality Opposition ONE STADIUM TOUR Anfield Stadium Look for details of the 2019 trip coming soon..