Freeport, Grand Bahama Island - Four kids who do really well at this years’ Sir Jack Hayward
soccer camp this June will be getting the Golden Boot Award – literally.
The last afternoon of the week-long event at the Freeport
Rugby and Football Club will see the quartet who make the biggest contribution
to the camp walking away with the key to brand new personalised golden soccer
cleats.
They will be able imagine they are like Brazilian World Cup
star Neymar who used to spray paint his boots gold when he was a teenager.
The boots will be part of a glittering array of prizes for
this year’s camp. In addition to them there
will also be 15 full-size gold balls given out as trophies to those youngsters
who catch the eyes of the three pro coaches from the UK who will be leading all
the fun and games.
They will be looking to reward the players who improved
their games the most or impressed for their general all-round attitude to the
coaching and their fellow campers.
The camp which has earned an enviable record for being the
best value summer camp on Grand Bahama and for the world-class coaching it
provides, begins in just six weeks (June 22). As usual it will run for five
days from 9am to 3pm and will give everyone who takes part not just a memorable
few days but two full soccer uniforms, lunch every day and the chance of a
cooling swim as well as tips and practice routines aimed at improving their
games.
Thousands of children have attended the camp in its 10-year
history with some going on to win soccer scholarships at US colleges at least
partly because of what they learned.
This year’s visitors are Lauren Phillips, who previously
coached at the David Beckham Academy in London; James Lofthouse, who set out
some current professional players in their careers including one international
player; and Adrian Penrose, who has coached not just in the UK but also the US.
All are former players – Lauren is still playing in the
ladies game - who retrained to become not just full-time coaches but
specialists in teaching the game to children.
They work for the sport’s governing body in the UK, The Football
Association, as part of a grassroots programme to create a world-beating
England side in the future. It will be
the trio’s first-time in the Bahamas and they are very excited at the prospect.
“We know gold balls were a very popular prize at the camp two
years ago but are sure the prospect of being able to wear gold boots with your
own name on the sides next season will be a huge draw this year. They will add real value to what the camp
already offers but no one can win them if they don’t sign up and now is the
time to register,” said camp organiser Derek Archer.
Registration forms are available at Animale in Port Lucaya
Market Place, Town and Country in Yellow Pine Street, and the rugby club in the
evenings.
The registration form is attached below: