We really are living the life here. Sleeping on soccer bedspreads, waking up to Old Trafford outside your window, eating breakfast with memorabilia dotting the walls…I don’t think any of us on this trip are in a rush to get back home! If that wasn’t enough, today was THE day for soccer lovers. Regardless of which team you support, the fact that members of the Class of ’92 are putting sessions on for you is a dream come true. It just happens to be a bonus for two of our staff who are massive United supporters.
After breakfast all of the teams headed over to Manchester City’s old training ground, Carrington Training Center. The teams were split up and spent the next two hours training with Scholes, Giggs and Butt. Each legend hosted a station with a specific skill/objective and the kids were able to spend 30 minutes with them each. Each one of these players had a unique perspective on things and it certainly rubbed off on all of the players. I think some of them managed to pick up some new tricks and will be eager to try them out when they get back to the ‘States’. Afterwards the players were able to take photos with the CO92 members and get some autographs as well. Needless to say, any autographed items will be treated like gold and strapped to us when we board the plane back home!
Back at the hotel the kids enjoyed some lunch before they headed off again for their fixtures in the evening. The U12 & U14 girls faced off against Liverpool whilst the U12 boys played against Burnley. Even though some of our staff and players are MUFC fans, the opportunity to play against the biggest rival (Liverpool) was truly a special occasion. Liverpool has a close connection with New England due to the fact that their owner is John Henry who owns the Boston Red Sox. The girls had a fantastic time and gave Liverpool a real test which shows how far they have come on this trip. The boys competed against Burnley (another Club in the Premier League) and it was a really competitive affair. It was a scrappy, hard fought game and the boys went toe-to-toe with the Burnley.
After we presented all the players with their Nike balls and commemorative plaques we headed back to Hotel Football, slightly exhausted but beaming from ear to ear. The kids loved every minute today and truth be told, so did we!
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