Well, today was quite the busy day for the boys and the group. We started at 8:00 AM with a full English breakfast for everyone followed by a quick bus ride to the Liverpool Soccer Academy.
At the Academy the boys hit the Liverpool locker room to get ready and then stepped on some of the nicest, greenest fields we have ever encountered. They were simply beautiful to play on. The teams were then separated, providing each with a trainer from the Liverpool Club. The trainers were excellent in providing instructions during the drills. The trainer for the U14 Boys was a former Liverpool reserve player for the big club who also played in the Scottish Premier League. The boys ran through some drills with the instructors providing excellent commentary and direction throughout the process. This was definitely a highlight of the trip for the boys.
Following the great training session, the group headed off to Anfield, the stadium home of the Liverpool Football Club, for a wonderful experience. The boys went through the LFC museum, showcasing the highlights of over 100 years of history of the club and containing many great visuals, including the four Champions League Cups. After the museum visit, the boys had a private tour of the stadium itself. It started with the boys entering through the players entrance and proceeding directly to the LFC locker room. The room itself was surprisingly simple in its design and utility, better for the players to focus on the match we were told. This followed with a brief stop at the interview area and then onto the pitch itself which was amazing, even better than the Academy fields. It was described as partial artificial and partial natural turf. However, it was described it was amazing. The boys learned the story of The KOP (you’ll have to ask them yourself). Following the stadium tour, the boys then entered LFC retail central in the superstore and had 30 minutes to find gifts and bargains. There were many bags loaded onto the bus and again, this was a thrill and a trip highlight for the boys.
Then it was on to the matches for the boys against Wrexham. This was about 1½ hours away. It was a mixed bag for the boys at Wrexham in terms of results and the game reports will be posted tomorrow given the lateness of the hour today.
Finally, the group headed back toward Liverpool to watch a live match of the Lancashire FA Cantebury Senior Cup featuring the Liverpool Football Club versus the Manchester United Football Club for the cup hardware. The boys thoroughly enjoyed watching the reserve squads battle it for the cup. In a spirited match that swung back and forth in terms of momentum, MUFC prevailed 3-2 on a late goal in about the 80th minute.
A final one hour bus drive back to the University and the day had ended. Whew…what a day; lots of memories and lots of fun.
That’s all for now.
Quote of the Day
“I don’t think I could have a higher opinion of any footballer than I already had of the Irishman, but he rose even further in my estimation at the Stadio Delle Alpi. The minute he was booked and out of the final he seemed to redouble his efforts to get the team there. It was the most emphatic display of selflessness I have seen on a football field. Pounding over every blade of grass, competing if he would rather die of exhaustion than lose, he inspired all around him. I felt it was an honour to be associated with such a player.”
Sir Alex Ferguson (on Roy Keane after the European Cup semi-final in 1999)
English soccer manager
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
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