Following the hugely successful Talent ID Clinic in Sydney Australia in April, we can confirm that a travelling party of 45 players and parents will be heading over to join up with our International Football Academy (FTIFA) in Fleetwood this September.
These players are now part of the newly branded branch of the Academy, FTIFA Australia, and are in a FTIFA development programme run by James Boyle in Sydney. Weekly sessions will be delivered, supporting their training in readiness for touchdown in the UK when they join up with the main group of players on the Fylde Coast.
Mick Horsfall, FTIFA Manager, said: “it’s crucial that we offer realistic pathways for players to sample and experience UK football so designing this two-week trip will allow players to be coached by our Academy coaches and see how good they are. The dream for all young players is to become a Professional and these tours will give players a realistic view of how close they are to the levels required.”
The FTIFA Programme has always been a hotbed of talent for players from Australia and has had over 15 players from down under.
“We have had a great group of players who are good footballers and great young men who have represented their home countries brilliantly. Having already worked with the groups arriving, we already know they are coachable and now we want to compare their talents to those of players in the UK striving for the same dream, to play Pro,” Mick added.
“The visit will hopefully be the stepping-stone for FTIFA Australia players to come back and work with us on a long-term development plan. We already have four players signed on to our Pro Experience programme for six months of training in July and January, which is great to see.”
The two-week visit will include intensive training sessions, matches against professional youth academies, attendance at Pro fixtures, and stadium tours at both Manchester United and Liverpool.
The steps are already in motion for after the visit from our Australian partners as the UK coaches are planning to head over to their homeland in January 2023 for a reverse visit, but this is just in the discussion stage at the moment so make sure to keep up to date with the club and FTIFA for details on this.
If this sounds like something you would be interested in, you can get involved in the next Talent ID Clinic with FTIFA Australia by emailing them directly at info@FTIFA.com.au.