LOCAL CLUBS HOST SHEWSBURY HOUSE SCHOOL

Mil Palmeras FC started their season preparations early this year with a friendly game against visiting Shewsbury House School at the superb Campoamor Golf Hotel complex on Friday September 3.

Shrewsbury House is an independent day Preparatory School for boys aged 7 to 13 and their oldest team enjoyed a three-day stay at the complex to train and play games against Mil Palmeras and Pilar de La Horadada.

The football field at Campoamor is designed and maintained for professional visiting football teams and was in excellent condition, although at 110-metres long and 60-metres wide, it provided a lot of space that the young players needed to cover. In Spain, those 12 and under learn their skills playing seven-a-side, primarily on artificial grass or dirt fields.

Both Spanish sides found themselves at a disadvantage against a well-disciplined Shewsbury House team, who looked well used to 11-a-side tactics and playing on grass. To even things up, the Spanish teams were more used to playing in the afternoon heat.

Both games were played in good spirits and very evenly matched. Mil Palmeras drew 2-2 with goals from Charlie and Shadi for the ‘home’ side. On Saturday Pilar came out winners 2:1 thanks to a very late goal in a game dominated by the visitors.

Travel was organised by UK Specialist Dovetail Foks who plan on bringing over top English League Elite Under-19 teams to play and train at both Campoamor and Torrevieja along with running specialist football coaching courses during 2011. Both this weekend’s games were organised by Tony Pickford.

Training is presently underway for the new season at Tony’s Soccer School and more information can be found at www.tonys-soccer-school.net or calling 678955501.