The International Soccer School Summer Programme in Bolton, Canada with partner club Bolton Wanderers Soccer Club (BWSC) was not just a great success from a coaching point of view but with the BWFC First Team being there for few days ahead of their game against Toronto FC gave a great opportunity for the participants of the camp to meet the players and management.
BWFC Manager Owen Coyle invited the players and coaches from BWSC down to watch the first team train on the first day of the Summer Programme so the International Soccer School (ISS) took the under 14's, who are incidentally coming over to visit here at the Reebok Stadium next March. The training session was a fantastic opportunity from all at BWSC to view as the Gaffer put them through a passing and possession drill which considering our theme for the summer fitted in very well. The players looked sharp and it was great to see long term injuries like Sean Davies and Joey O’Brien back. At the end of the training session the BWFC players signed shirts and poised for photos which again was very much appreciated.
During the visit the ISS Manager Dave Bailey introduced William Hey the President of BWSC to Owen and Chairman Phil Gartside speaking about the upcoming game with Toronto FC. The Gaffer gave a great comment on coaches and that no coach knows everything and we all still learning and the Chairman spoke about the club and the season ahead in which we all looking forward to as BWFC celebrate their tenth successive season in the English Premier League. Dave and William explained to the Chairman and Gaffer that on the day of the game over 600 people were going to be attending from BWSC all to support the Wanderers with boys and girls up to 100 boys and girls from the Summer Camp being involved in the pre match build up, it was going to be a real BWFC Day.
On the game day it was like been back home at the Reebok, BWSC had organised banners with kids and parents all very much in the spirit and party mode. A staff member from Toronto FC commented;
“We had Real Madrid here last year and it was nothing like this, it’s CRAZY”
The game was BWFC's toughest test of their North American Tour but after a 1-1 draw came out winners on penalties lifting the Carling Cup. From a first team point of view it was a great workout with players getting minutes under their belt before returning back to the UK to continue pre-season on home turf.