Under-18s To Visit The Netherlands In August
Shrewsbury Town is delighted to announce the Club's scholars will make a European trip - for the first time ever - in the summer of 2016.
Town's Under-18s squad for the 2016/17 season will fly out to The Netherlands for the League Football Education's (LFE) Erasmus+ 2016 Dutch Trip in the first two weeks of August.
During their time abroad, the young Shrews will play three friendly matches against European opposition on grass and artificial surfaces.
There will also be four guest/integrated coaching sessions, the opportunity to attend Dutch top flight game and other social and cultural activities.
The trip runs from Monday 1 August until Saturday 13 August (12 nights).
The aims of the trip, as stated by the LFE, are:
- To expose players/coaches to the philosophies and training environments which are producing players in Europe who are migrating to England/Wales.
- To enable players/coaches to observe, experience, evaluate, improve and acquire new technical, tactical and physical skills/training techniques.
- To facilitate personal/professional development of players/coaches and the acquisition of greater self-knowledge, new behaviours and attitudes, cultural awareness, employability and language skills.
- To expand player/coach knowledge of labour market opportunities inside and outside of performance within Europe and encourage outward migration.
- To challenge players/coaches to take responsibility for embedding acquired knowledge and learning into their everyday environments and programmes.
- To effect structural changes at the governing body level (Premier League/Football League/FA) and within the apprenticeship framework based on European best practice.
Shrewsbury Town’s academy manager, Steve Reece, said: “Following years of unsuccessful tour applications, this is a major opportunity for our young players and staff to experience the different cultures and football philosophies from our Dutch hosts as well as enjoying a pre-season games programme against some strong European opposition.
“There are various cultural visits planed by the LFE as part of their education programme and since learning of our trip there has been a buzz in and around the Academy and preparation for the tour has already begun to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
“These are certainly exciting times for everyone involved with the Youth Team.”