Moor’s happy Campers!
CLUB STARLETS ENJOY DREAM TRIP TO MILAN TOURNAMENT
IN July 2016 100 youngsters from North Tyneside and further afield participated in Italian giants’ AC Milan’s junior football camp at West Moor Juniors FC.
From there, nine were invited to Milan to participate in the 2017 AC Milan Junior Camp tournament.
Football-mad youngsters chosen from camps held across the world came together to play in the tournament at AC Milan’s Youth Academy under the name of the club’s main sponsors.
The competition was split over two days, the Saturday hosting the older children (1115 years) who played 11-a-side and the Sunday featuring eight to 11-year-olds competing in seven-a-side football.
West Moor chairman Drew Gransbury said: “The youngsters experienced playing with and against all different cultures and countries from around the world.
“The way they all seamlessly bonded through something as simple as football was an amazing thing to witness.
“The two older youngsters from the West Moor camp did themselves proud on the first day.
“They were the youngest players and certainly looked the youngest players but they did not let this phase them and got stuck in from the start. “
AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani and current player Jose Sosa both gave a speech to the youngsters and then carried out the presentations.
On the Sunday it was the turn of the younger players and the opening ceremony was conducted by the great Italian defender Franco Baresi.
The teams were mixed with players from all over the world and the attitude and application of all involved was excellent.
During the lunchtime interval, the kids were introduced to another AC Milan player Riccardo Montolivo who conducted a question and answer session.
The tournament progressed through group stages to knockout stages and eventually to a final - where three players from the West Moor camp took part.
Gransbury added: “It was an excellent match, two of the West Moor players were on the winning side and one finished runnerup, which is an amazing achievement.”
As part of the trip the youngsters and their families were given tickets to the AC MilanGenoa Serie A clash at the San Siro.
At half-time they were all paraded around the pitch and introduced to the crowd.
WEST Moor Juniors will be hosting the AC Milan Junior camp again on August 7 for five days (9.00-5.00) at West Moor Community Centre, North Tyneside. Contact Drew Gransbury on 07920 405 933.