Academy players at 14 EFL clubs will travel to Italy, Spain or the Netherlands on Sunday as part of a pre-season trip organised by League Football Education.
The initiative – fully subsidised by the Erasmus+ fund – provides a fantastic opportunity for LFE apprentices to learn new skills and gain a real insight into life within a European club, while also facilitating the exchange of ideas between EFL and European coaches and staff members.
Approximately 280 Under-18 apprentices and 60 Academy staff from Sky Bet Championship, League One and League Two clubs will experience the two-week trip abroad, which includes coaching sessions delivered by host club staff, matches against a range of top European youth teams, as well as a complete social and cultural programme for the players to engage with – designed to broaden personal and professional horizons.
Activities include language lessons, city and stadium tours, guest speaker sessions and the option to conduct community activity, while challenging opposition includes Atalanta, Atlético Madrid, Excelsior Rotterdam, Real Betis, Sampdoria, Sevilla and VFL Bochum, to name a few.
Project Coordinator Elaine Brand said: “The pre-season trips provide players and staff with the opportunity to experience a different culture, play against foreign opposition and learn about European methods for developing young footballers.
“Players with an enthusiasm to absorb their surroundings and the determination to make the most of each opportunity can really benefit from the fortnight abroad. While partner coaching sessions will help to develop the apprentices as players, the range of cultural activities will allow them to gain life skills, expose them to a new language and hopefully open their minds to life in a new environment.”
The full list of participant clubs is as follows:
Italy
• Birmingham City
• Colchester United
• Crewe Alexandra
• Oxford United
Spain
• Blackpool
• Bolton Wanderers
• Bradford City
• Coventry City
• Forest Green Rovers
• Gillingham
• Salford City
• Shrewsbury Town
Netherlands
• Harrogate Town
• Northampton Town
