ST PETER FC U14 squad have their sights set on Madrid, Spain, today, where they are set to compete in the highly coveted MadCup, starting tomorrow.
The western-based club have an excellent reputation for offering their academy players opportunities, and this weekend will be no different.
The MadCup is widely considered to be the premier junior tournament in the world, sponsored and organised by club football giants Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
The talented St Peter U14 squad, seven of whom represented Jersey at this level, are now excited to be facing their biggest adventure and their toughest task to-date.
They will travel with manager and head coach, Nigel Godfrey, and assistant coaches Chris McGeever and Mark Nightingale to Madrid, the competition ending on Wednesday 25 June.
The Centro Deportivo Alcala de Henares will host junior teams between U7 to U19 for boys and U12 to U19 for girls.
It is a football tournament aimed at major clubs’ junior squads and successful grassroots teams, which last season attracted 809 teams, including 212 International clubs from 34 different countries.
Clubs from all over the world participate, including such teams as Club America from Mexico, Juventus from Italy, Olympique Lyonnais from France, Pohang Steelers from South Korea, Sporting from Portugal, Sports Club Do Recife from Brazil and both Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.
The competition begins with a preliminary group stage, with either four or five teams in each group. The final phase is structured into three levels: MadCup Gold, Silver and Bronze.
The top two teams in each group play in the Gold, third and fourth teams are in Silver and the lower-placed teams play in Bronze. At this latter level, all matches are played in a knock-out format. The games at St Peter age level will be 11-a-side, 25 minutes each way.
The draw for the group stage has already been made, with St Peter FC competing at U15 level.
Their first match will see them face Spanish side Rayo Ensache at the Atletico Madrid training ground tomorrow night, followed by a game on Saturday versus Sporting Hortaleza and Sunday’s mammoth clash with Spanish giants, Atletico Madrid A team.
The final group match is against CBF School USA. The knockout stage starts on the Tuesday and is dependent on the final finishing position in the group.
Along with the competition, the players and the accompanying party of the visiting teams will also be given a tour behind the scenes of the famous Real Madrid Bernabeu Stadium tomorrow and Atletico Madrid Stadium on Monday.
The St Peter team will also enjoy a football clinic with the Atletico Madrid coaching team, along with other enjoyable social activities.
Organisers of the event make clear this is much more than a soccer project. Its mission is to link soccer with culture, education and life values.
The squad and the management, inspired by Nigel Godfrey, have been raising the funds for several months to make this visit possible, including filling shopping bags in supermarkets, static bike rides and a “Dads versus Lads” soccer match among other initiatives.
Nigel Godfrey welcomed the opportunity, saying: “The boys are embarking on the trip of a lifetime, they have worked hard to raise funds but this has only been made possible by the generosity of businesses and Islanders who have supported their passion and desire to accept this invitation.”
“Without them this would not have been possible, I would like to thank Complete Facilities, Hacquoil & Cook, Dandara, Mercury Distribution, Tantivy, Healthcheck and many private individuals who have supported and helped us. The boys and myself will be forever grateful.”
St Peter 16-man squad:
- George Godfrey (c), Leo Socrates, Brandon Le Brocq, Oli Murtagh, Kai Lloy McGeever, Luka Ramage, Marco Diaz, Noah Ip, Edward Tattan, Hubert Burdynski, Ryan Martin, Harry Nightingale, William Webber, Jack Avis, Ted Dove, Charlie Baird