SHOOT Football Academy’s U12s and U13s players have returned from the UK, where they trained with English Premier League (EPL) clubs at their facilities.
Shoot Football founder and coach Tony Judge, arranged tours, training sessions and “friendlies” with the likes of Luton Town, Liverpool, Fulham, Tottenham, AFC Wimbledon and Wrexham.
“We’ve been organising trips to London for a couple of years now,” he told News Of The Area.
“It’s been a great chance for young players from Port Macquarie to experience the football culture of the UK.”
Tony said the trips have proven to be an unforgettable experience for the players.
“It’s not just about watching English Premier League games, but training at EPL clubs’ first-grade team facilities.
“It’s amazing for the kids to see the sights of London, from Buckingham Palace to other iconic locations.
“It’s like stepping into another world, particularly the world of professional football.”
Shoot Football Academy student, 13-year-old Cruz Kawaguchi, toured with the team to the UK earlier this year.
He said, “my favourite part of the UK tour was getting to train with Premier League team coaches and playing against teams like Fulham”.
“It was fun getting to watch games live in the stadiums [that] I’ve only ever seen on TV.”
Fourteen-year-old Cooper Lamond said, “the best part of the tour was training with the Premier League coaches because I was able to learn new skills and, even though the sessions were challenging at times, they were fun and I learnt so much”.
“I also loved watching the live games – the atmosphere was epic.”
Shoot Football offers boys and girls between seven and 14, the chance to train with accredited and experienced coaches.
Looking ahead, Tony hopes to expand its offerings, particularly through sponsorships.
“We want to provide young players with the chance to improve their skills and thrive in a professional environment,” he said.
“The goal is to create a space where players are motivated to challenge themselves and push for their best.
“It’s a user-pays program right now, but down the track, we’re looking into sponsors to make the experience better for families.”
Shoot Football started 12 years ago and after a brief hiatus, resumed four years ago – initially as a holiday camp.
“Now we’ve grown to offer various Academy programs, which is exciting.”
Shoot Football’s holiday camp kicked off with 60 young players on Monday 14 April, at the Port Macquarie hockey fields.
By Sis HIGGINS
