Sunday, June 28, 2009

The David Beckham Academy

THE ENGLISH CUP HOSTS THE DAVID BECKHAM ACADEMY

Shrewsbury Sports Village will be bursting with life during the week of The English Cup (2nd – 7th August 2009). Shrewsbury’s International Tournament will bring footballers of all abilities to play in its competitions for 11 to 18 year olds and festivals for the 7 to 10 age groups.

This year there is something new. Young people taking part in the competitions and others from the area who come along to enjoy the football will be able to have a fabulous experience with The David Beckham Academy who will be based on the tournament field for the week.

Academy Head Coach Ted Dale will lead the skilled team of coaches from the Academy and will offer various programmes to teams and individuals. This will include a new skills competition, created by the Academy, which “pairs of players” can enter.

The Academy was conceived in Madrid when David Beckham told his friend Ted Byrne that he would like to build soccer schools in a way that had never been down before. They would have the best coaches and the best facilities to offer the kids the best time possible.

That is exactly what he has done first in London and in Los Angeles.

In London, the David Beckham Academy welcomes over 10,000 school children a year, of all ability levels with equal numbers of boys and girls. In his Soccer Skills Book “Making it Real” David explains that while the vision is to maintain the highest standards of football coaching for kids. He wants to help to produce some children who can go all the way and have careers as professional footballers, but emphasises that is not the main aim of the Academy. It’s about having a place where kids can come and learn and, where they can be safe. The main goal is for them to have a fun experience through football.

The David Beckham Academy building itself is something special, with two full size football pitches under one roof and a suite of classrooms, medical facilities and dining areas. It is a mind-blowing place and Soccer Destinations has agreed with the Academy to make it easy for youngsters from around England and Wales to have a day at the Academy with a time spent on coaching drills, classroom activities, team building, mini tournaments and on the skills circuit.

If you want to take part in the Academy programme at The English Cup let us know and we will send full details and offer a chance to register. After you get into the tournament fields the Academy experience is free.

African Champions are coming to Town !!

AFRICAN CHAMPIONS FOR SHREWSBURY TOURNAMENT
Continuing their efforts to bring special teams to The Shrewsbury International Soccer Tournament, Soccer Destinations today announced that current African champions, Al Ahly, will be bringing two teams to this summer’s event at the Shrewsbury Sports Village (2 – 7 August).

Al Ahly is the leading Egyptian football club based in Cairo. Founded in April 107, Al Ahly, which means “national” in Arabic, is the most crowned club in Egypt, having won the Egyptian League thirty-three times and the Egyptian Club thirty-five times. Al Ahly was named the African Club of the Century in 2000 by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and they won the African Cup of Champion’s Clubs in 1982 and 1987 before it was renamed the CAF Champion’s League, which they have won a further four times and of which they are the current holders.

Every Egyptian youngster wants to play for Al Ahly. This year they will give trials to a staggering 25,000 children. They recruit from age 9 and the Club looks after every need of those selected.

Al Ahly’s presence will be a particular pleasure for Shrewsbury Tournament President Mike Smith* who managed the Egyptian national side for three successful years.

Al Ahly will play in both the Elite under 17 competitions and The English Cup at that age. A second side is likely to be their under 13 team. Recognised as supreme in Africa they are coming to gain experience and will meet a wide variety of teams.

In the Elite tournament Al Ahly will join Premier League teams Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City, Mexicans, Peruvians and Shrewsbury Town.

Under 9's Spotlight

Its still not too late for local teams to add their names to the following list of Teams entered into the One Day Under 9 Development Festival :
Port Vale
Wednesfield
Bristol Rovers Coaching Centre
The New Saints
Hereford Utd
Welshpool Juniors
Shropshire Villa
Bishops Castle
Email or call now to add your team to this fun day out on Wednesday August 5th.
No Results recorded and every player is equally rewarded at the end of the day.

PLUS all the extras avaialable on site !!

Monday, June 22, 2009

2009 : The Countdown has Started

The Countdown has Started to the 2009 Shrewsbury International Soccer Tournament. Keep checking this page for information.

We will have exciting News about the Teams taking part including the NEW Elite Competition that will feature Under 17 Teams from The Premiership, South America, The Coca Cola League and the Middle East !

Also News on The David Beckham Academy who will be on-site for 5 days and the One Day Development Festivals that will allow local Teams to play against Development Squads from around the Country as well as Centre of Excellence and Academy Teams from the English and Welsh leagues.

Local Sides can still enter as non-residents but hurry time is limited.