GN Soccer Magazine September 2014 Edition | Page 3

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Once again selected players from Generation Next FC from the Stoke City FC coaching held
in Antigua in December 2013 journeyed to the United Kingdom to attend Stoke’s Advance
Development Centre where they received intense training sessions delivered by Stoke
City’s Community coaches. This was the second such invitational trip organized by both
clubs, the first of which was held in November 2013.
All the young aspiring GNFC footballers were afforded the opportunity to not only witness
an English Premier League game, but also to be part of the match as Flag Bearers, as
Stoke City took on Aston Villa at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday 16th August. An emotion sense of National pride overwhelmed the group of parents accompanying the group
as an announcement over the stadium’s public address system welcoming the
“Antiguans” to Stoke was aired.
The following day, Sunday, a tour of the Britannia Stadium was arranged by officials of
Stoke. The GNFC players were able to visit the Dressing Rooms, Media Booths, Executive
Boxes and Lounges and ending at pitch side where the posed for pictures sitting in the
dugout. After lunch, they were treated to play a game of Futsal at the Power Play facility
abutting the Britannia Stadium.
The following 3 days GNFC Players were given grueling, though enjoyable, training sessions spanning from 9 am to 4 pm Monday through Wednesday on 3G surfaces at Chesterton and in Stoke’s Academy Dome. On Wednesday Stoke’s Academy scout, Stu Ralphs,
was in attendance to view the talented group of players and we now look forward to receiving his assessment, hopeful that one or more will receive invitations into the academy.
Here is the Generation Next FC Touring Group who attended Stoke Advance Development
Centre:

Alexandre Barbotteau, Luka Bruscki, Christian Corbett, Johann
Derrick, Michael Gerrish, Maia Hadded, Matthew Hall, Kyllian
Martin, Jauntai Roberts, Michael Santos, Garron Warner, Alec
Wilkinson, Eamon Wilkinson