Newcomer to GBI, Jamie Godbold.

The camp scores of local kids have been eagerly   awaiting – the English Premier League Soccer Camp – kicks off at Freeport Rugby Club on Monday.

The coaching advance guard from the UK, including team leader Phil French, arrived on the island last evening (Wednesday) and the others, fourth-timer former international player Luther Blissett and newcomer Jamie Godbold, will arrive around 9pm on Friday.

Blissett and Goldbold will need a day or two before Monday to acclimatize – Grand Bahama is forecast to be 25 degrees warmer on Friday than London as well as being on a time zone five hours ahead of Freeport.

Almost 100 youngsters have already registered and paid for the camp – many more than in previous years at this stage -and they are being rewarded with a chance to collect their two full sets of uniform and other goodies from the club on Saturday afternoon – 24 hours ahead of main registration.   Main registration is from 2pm until 4.30pm on Sunday.

Godbold (pictured) is a real coup for the camp.   He is one of an elite group of coaches working for the English Football Association who totally specialize in developing pre-teen and teen players.  

He is also a talented current player who was the star in this year’s FA Vase cup competition at the world-famous Wembley Stadium in London.

Blissett and French need no introduction to Grand Bahama soccer fans.   French has been associated with the camp since the beginning and has been the organizational link at the UK end, co-ordinating coaches and arranging extra uniforms and training equipment.

Apart from the camp, Blissett, who was born in Jamaica, is involved with a number of other former players with roots in the area in a motor racing venture in Europe aimed at putting the region on the map with an all-Caribbean driving team.   The team is just embarking on its first season.

REGISTRATION FORM ATTACHED BELOW: