The Bolton Wanderers Football Club International Soccer School was visited in March by over 150 people from Canada. The visits were part of the partnership with our International Partner Clubs where we welcomed teams from;
Bolton Wanderers Soccer Club (Ontario)
Tsawwassen Soccer Club (British Columbia)
Langley United (British Columbia)
National Sports Development Soccer Club (Calgary Alberta)
The teams were put through their paces through a variety of different Training Programmes from 4-10 days, as well as on the training pitch some of the teams opted for Classroom Sessions with all teams experiencing the Reebok Stadium Tour. Langley United chose the full BWFCISS Training and Accommodation Package and stayed in BWFC's own 4* Hotel the De Vere Whites which is integrated within the Reebok itself. Unfortunately due to the dates that the clubs visited they missed the only home game in March against Villa but some were given the opportunity to watch BWFC play Manchester United at Old Trafford.
As part of the majority of the visits the teams had games arranged vs Academy teams and Local Youth teams, as well as playing BWFC's Academy, the side from Bolton Wanderers Soccer Club also played Manchester United at their Academy.
The Classroom Sessions were seminars based around Diet and Nutrition, Player and Match Analysis, Roles and Responsibilities etc, the classes were held in the Reebok Stadium overlooking the pitch as were the Club Introductions and Team Presentation Evenings. The Training Sessions were mainly held at the Bolton Arena but some of the teams were lucky enough to train at BWFC's state of the art Academy facility in Lostock which was very exiting for the players as they got to experience what it is like to be an Academy Player here in the UK at the highest of standards.
Dave Bailey the ISS Manager commented;
“The teams that came over had the best experience they could have had, a real treat. They could not have had a tougher time as the level here is by far a lot quicker, the speed of the players and how they move the ball at academy level was a real eye opener for the clubs. The clubs against Local Youth teams in all fairness to them competed much better and can go home enriched with the understanding and knowledge about life and football here. The coaching the ISS delivered also had more intensity than what they were used to and I feel the coaches who came with the clubs also took something away from the invaluable experience.”
Attached in the related documents section of this page you can find the itineraries for each teams visit for you to see exactly what each programme included.
If you wish to be part of our any of the programmes we offer here at the International Soccer School please contact Nicola Rimmer by emailing
nrimmer@bwfc.co.uk.