Footballers net the chance to train with Barcelona legends

TALENT: Abertay University players will go on trip of a lifetime

Two members of Abertay University Football Club will embark on a trip of a lifetime to Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium this week to train with club legends and learn from some of the world’s top stars.

Club president Jennifer Burrows and women’s team captain Philippa Weber will travel to the Catalan capital tomorrow as part of Santander UK’S initiative to support female talent in their sporting and professional lives.

Jennifer and Philippa are two of a select group of women footballers at UK universities who will join a programme of events, tours and training designed to help build critical thinking and management skills.

The activities will kick off with a panel event on leadership with contributions from Maria Teixidor, board director and company secretary of Barcelona Football Club, along with top officials from Santander.

The group will then have the opportunity to benefit from a training session with former Barcelona and Chelsea star Albert Ferrer.

They will also watch on as Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Gerard Pique and the rest of Barcelona’s superstar first team take part in the club’s last round of 16 tie against Olympique Lyonnais in the Uefa Champions League.

Professor Nigel Seaton, principal of Abertay University, was delighted that the players had been granted the “fantastic opportunity”.

He said: “Our partnership with Santander Universities is making a genuine difference for our students, and I’d like to thank them for their continued commitment to Abertay University.”

Emilio Botín launched Santander Universities in Spain in 1996 as a vehicle for business investment into its communities. The programme has more than 1,200 university partners across 20 countries.

Matt Hutnell, director of Santander Universities, said: “We are thrilled to offer this opportunity to top female football talent from across the UK to help develop their leadership skills, both within and outside a sporting context.

“We hope the trip will motivate and support female talent with their career ambitions – whether in the world of sport, finance or beyond.”

We are thrilled to offer this opportunity to top female football talent from across the UK. MATT HUTNELL, DIRECTOR OF SANTANDER UNIVERSITIES

Jennifer, left, and Philippa are looking forward to meeting former club stars.