2023 England Tour Recap
Group Photos
Older & Middle Boys at St. George's Park
Girls Groups at Wolves Training Facility
Young Boys Alongside Their Third Game Opponents
Tour Recap
After a long flight from Boston (Day 1), families arrived at Heathrow Airport in London where we were met by our XL Tour Guides. Players then took part in a light training session led by our tour guides at the former training base of Queens Park Rangers. The session provided a platform for players to get to know each other and shake off the jet lag. We had five teams throughout the week: three on the boys side and two on the girls side. It was then time to head to Manchester. As part of our journey we stopped in Stratford, the home of William Shakespeare, to tour the city and get our first taste of English culture. After safely arriving in Manchester, we enjoyed a quick team dinner before heading off to a necessary slumber.
Monday morning was spent in the beautiful city of Chester. We had lots of time to explore the city, including visits to the famous Cathedral and a 2-mile walk along the Roman Walls. Each group had team meals for either lunch or dinner, providing a further opportunity for players and parents to bond. Our boys’ teams hopped over the border to play against Welsh opposition Connah Quay Nomads, while our girls teams played nearby against the New Saints FC. Playing against British teams was an eye-opening experience for our players who quickly learned the game is played differently across the pond! Visit the hyperlinks below to see Game Albums of 4 out of the 5 hard-fought contests.
Young Boys Middle Boys Older Boys Older Girls
Tuesday morning began at the home of the champions by touring Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium. We went into the dressing rooms, walked out onto the pitch, and experienced the club museum of the reigning English Premier League Champions through a guided tour. The rest of the day was spent with Curzon Ashton FC, a non-league team in the 6th Division of English football. Each of our five teams played games against local opposition before taking in the sights of their senior team’s game. The home side won 3-0 against Peterborough United in what was our first live-game viewing experience. Visit the hyperlinks below to see Game Albums of all the games players took part in.
Young Boys Middle Boys Older Boys Younger Girls Older Girls
The day started in the famous city of Liverpool, home of Liverpool F.C. We went on a full audio tour of one of the game’s greatest stadiums; we even got to touch the famous “You’ll Never Walk Alone” sign all players walk past before stepping onto the pitch. After a bus ride to the countryside we arrived at St. George’s Park, the training facility for the Men’s & Women’s National teams. Players got a tour of the facility before taking part in a session led by F.A staff coaches on a climate-controlled, 3G pitch! We then spent a quiet evening in the hotel at St. George’s Park, enjoying a delicious dinner followed by a viewing of that night’s Champions League game. Visit below to see the Photo Album of our older boys training session.
We departed St. George’s Park to travel to Wolverhampton, the home of Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. This stadium tour gave us a unique perspective on what a “typical” Premier League stadium looks like. Each grandstand sat on its own, and the club tour guides were fantastic in pointing out all the little details of the stadium. In the afternoon we hopped back on the bus to their training facility, where players underwent training sessions led by Wolves Academy staff. The older boys session was led by Darius Vassell, a former Manchester City, Aston Villa, and Leicester City striker who earned 22 caps for England during his career. Even our coaches made sure to get a picture with him! We ended the day in the capital city of London at our hotel located right next Stamford Bridge, the home of Chelsea F.C. Visit the hyperlinks below for Photo Albums of our three training sessions.
Young Boys Middle & Older Boys Younger Girls & Older Girls
Even if it was our only day players weren't playing soccer, everyone was on their feet exploring the beautiful city of London. We went on a boat cruise up the Thames River, taking in the sights and sounds of downtown London. Our groups were then split up to explore the city on their own or get a guided tour by Simon. If you ever have a question about the history of London, Simon knows the answer! His tour included stops at Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the Parliament Building, and more. When the sun set, we took in our first live Premier League Match at Craven Cottage: Fulham vs. Wolves. A back-and-forth game finished 1-1, but the unforgettable atmosphere was unlike anything we get in America.
Saturday was for soccer, our last full day of the tour. Players took part in their final games in the morning at three different locations. Our girls teams played at the home of Barnet F.C, a League 2 side based in London. They had an active train track in the background of their tightly-contested games. The group reconvened at the London Stadium for our second live Premier League match between West Ham and Nottingham Forest. Four goals in less than 17 minutes propelled the Hammers to a much-needed three points in front of a 62,000 sellout-crowd. In the evening, our XL Tour Guides gave special awards out at team dinners to conclude a fantastic trip. Visit the hyperlinks below for Game Albums of our two girls games.
Day 9: Sunday, Feb. 26
We said our goodbyes to each other and our wonderful tour guides before heading off to the airport for early morning flights. We’re thankful to say our players, parents, and coaches safely landed in the early afternoon.
We cannot thank the XL Sports Staff and Tour Guides enough for leading us through the trip of a lifetime. Thank you to Evan, Kerrigan, Jake, Tall Luke, and especially Limpy Luke for all you did this week!
Until next time!
