Brisbane Youth Soccer Clinic's

2002 TOUR TO ENGLAND

21st. November 2002Thursday

Departed from Brisbane Airport on the 22nd. November 2001 at 1.30

22nd. November 2002Friday

Arrived in London at 6.10 picked up by Mini Bus company, from airport departed London 9.20 for Sheffield.

Arrived at the Sandpiper Hotel in Chesterfield just outside of Sheffield at 12.30, booked into hotel.

16.00 Trained for 1hr.30min at the Handsworth Boys F.C new 900-000pound training grounds opened a week before we arrived.

23rd. November 2002 Saturday

Morning Played Game:10:00 BYSC/HBFC invitation Team Vs Stocksbridge Park Steels J.F.C U/15

Venue: Olivers Mount Sports Grounds.

Afternoon: Watched Bolton Wanderers (1) vs Chelsea F.C (1) at Reebok Stadium 15:00 Visited The Mega store after the match.

24th. November 2001 Sunday

Morning: Watched U/14 Match Sheffield United vs Stoke County at Shirecliff

Visited Meadowhall Shoping Centre.

25th. November 2002 Monday

Morning: Met The Lord Mayor of Sheffield at 10:30AM.

Visited Sheffield United Mega Store.

Afternoon: Trained at Barnsley Academy with Assistant Director and U/19 Coach Mark Smith.

Evening: Trained with Barnsley F.C. Academy in the Evening under Barry Westerhof.

26th. November 2002 Tuesday

Morning: Trained with Barnsley F.C. Academy

Afternoon:Visited Sheffield Wednesday Super Store.

Evening: Trained with Sheffield United Academy 6:00 till 8:00 in new indoor centre under Sam Saife U/16 Coach.

27th. November 2002 Wednesday

Morning: Training with Barnsley Academy Under Mark Smith.

Evening Game: BYSC Team VS Handsworth Boys F.C. U/15 at Woodburn Road Stadium.

28th. November 2002 Thursday

Morning: Visited Leeds Mega Store

Visited Meadowhall Shoping Centre.

Played Match vs Worksop United in Rotherham

29th November 2002 Friday

Travelled to Manchester

Visited Manchester United Stadium & Mega Store

Manchester City Visited Mega Store, Trained in Academy Centre

Evening: Watched Match England (2) vs Scotland (1)U/16 International in Huddersfield

30th November 2002 Saturday

Played Game: Vs Sheffield Wednesday Young Owls U/15.

Watched Match: Sheffield United (2)Vs Crystal Palace(1) kick off 15:00 Our group was invited to meet the S/United players in the Dressing room before the match as a guest of the Director Kevin Mc Cabe. The players had photos and autographs with Shaun Murphy.

Went to Handsworth F.C. Club Party.

1st. December 2002 Sunday

Rest day: Swimming at Barnsley Hypo Dome.

Watched Leeds United (1)vs Charlton Athletic (2)

2nd. December 2002 Monday

Morning: Trained with Barnsley F.C. Academy, under Peter Watson Olympic running coach and Mark Smith

Afternoon Trained at Sheffield United Academy under Kevin Paxton club co-ordination coach.

Evening game cancelled due to no lights and club takeover, Trained indoors with academy players Under Barry Westerhof

3rd. December 2002 Tuesday

Departed Sheffield, travelled to London. Booked into Accommodation Holiday Inn, Bexley, London.

Trained with Charlton Athletic F.C. Academy 6.30 under Steve Avory Assistant Director

4th. December 2002 Wednesday

Toured London.Traveled by train to London the went on the Under Ground to Westminster Station. Toured London Visited Big Ben, Parliament House, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and Eye of London.

Evening: Trained with Charlton Athletic F.C. Academy 6.30 under Steve Avory Assistant Director

5th. December 2002 Thursday

Departed Heathrow at 12.30

6th. December 2001 Friday

Still flying

7th. December 2002 Saturday

12.50 Arrive Brisbane Airport

Photos are getting developed at present will forward shortly

3 of our group's players have stayed on and are training at Barnsley F.C with the under 19 squad, till end of January. Niall McCarthy, Graham Tulloch and Jude Gregory.

Conclusion: The Academy Coaches were impressed with the standard of our players. Our players fitted in well with the English players in the training sessions and did not look out of place. Some of the players have made friends for life and soon, we will have some pommies visiting our borders in the near future.

Our Academy intends bringing out Mark Smith a UEFA A License coach, ex Sheffield Wednesday Premier League Player, Represented England U/21 Team 650 professional matches and Barnsley Academy Assistant Director of Coaching in June 2003 Holidays to coach in our camps.

After the tour returned to Auatralia, I stayed on and travelled to Belguim to see my friend Gery De Buyser. Who is an RSC Anderlecht F.C. 1st Team Club Scout. Gery showed and explained the club program from u/6 to 1st Team as all players are important to the clubs future, very interesting and useful information. Thank you Gery

A Parents comment on the Tour

Thanks too for an excellent trip for the boys. Tom absolutely loved it. Very proudly displayed his 3 films worth of picces (and his 'war wounds') and is really looking forward to seeing if there was any video footage worth seeing!

Looking forward to catching up with you soon.

Breen and Tom

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This page was last updated on December 24, 2002