Day One - April 19th 2017

We made it! After months of planning, fundraising and hard work from all involved the day had finally arrived. There is nothing quite like waking up and touching down in London. I use the term 'waking up' loosely because our players were so excited that they hardly slept on the flight across the Atlantic. There are close to 70 people from Seacoast United taking part in the inaugural Class of '92 trip. All of the players received commemorative Nike Dri-Fits with both the CO92 and SUSC logos emblazoned across the top. Safe to say the players stood out when they were going through customs.

Sports Tours Europe greeted the group and we piled onto the coach (that's British for bus) and we were on our way to Manchester! The kids were kept busy for the majortiy of the trip as they marveled at the spectacle of cars driving on the wrong side (or is it the right side? The aged old argument continues...). Once everyone started seeing the signs for Manchester on the motorway the excitement escalated even more. When Hotel Football and Old Trafford were finally in view it took everything to keep the kids from jumping off the coach! Old Trafford is the home for Manchester United Football Club. arguably one of the biggest Clubs in the world and Hotel Football is located directly across from the ground.The players and parents got checked into their rooms which were adorned with football pictures and decorations.

The group headed up to the top floor of the hotel in the evening which has a turfed pitch (British for field) overlooking Old Trafford. Yes you read that right, a pitch on the roof! The kids and parents enjoyed a great dinner and then the opening ceremony got underway. Class of 92 members and Manchester United legends Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt came out to a warm reception.The MUFC heroes talked about the Class of 92 group and what it takes to get to the top and what they are up to now.

After the opening ceremony concluded, jet lag had finally sat in so the kids slowly made their way up to their rooms to sign off on what was a cracking first day. Be sure to check-in tomorrow and find out what the group got up to.