The kids were treated to a Saturday afternoon of football fun at The Cliff Training Ground during their time in Manchester with the club’s Scandinavian supporters’ club.
For many of the United fans, the experience was part of their first trip to the UK and very much a dream come true, with Cadbury providing the chance for them to play at Man Utd’s historic former training ground in Salford.
The engaging session, delivered by Man Utd’s Soccer Schools coaches, offered the young Reds a unique opportunity to play and learn more about the game – and the club – that they love, in an iconic location. Split into two groups, they were given a taste of what it is like to be a young player at United, enjoying a warm-up and some technical drills, followed by several small-sided games.
There were plenty of smiles, skills and goals scored across the afternoon, before the children were presented with their very own goody bag to take home with them.
Having visited The Cliff with the supporters’ club, the youngsters also managed to fit in a visit to the Old Trafford Museum and Tour, before attending Man Utd’s Premier League win over Aston Villa.
Per Larsen, secretary of the Scandinavian supporters' club said: “The kids really looked forward to this training session. I met them on Friday and they asked about it immediately, so I think they really like to play football and they got the opportunity here which is great for them.
“Being able to have a session here with the Manchester United Soccer Schools and getting education from coaches that are involved in Manchester United is a dream come true for these young kids.”
Norwegian football journalist Bjarte Valen, who was in attendance at the session with the supporters’ club, explained the significance of the youngsters getting the opportunity to play at The Cliff, adding: “When you come here, it’s almost like walking into a cathedral. It’s such a great place.
“I think it’s absolutely crucial that younger fans have the opportunity to learn about the history of the club. A large part of what makes Manchester United is the history.”Rounding up the afternoon, Manchester United Soccer Schools coach Andrew Watson explained: “I think the session went really well. The feedback from our partners and the parents is that they really enjoyed what we did with them but, most importantly, the smiles on the faces of the kids and the goals scored are how you know things have gone well – they’re all smiling and enjoying themselves.
“We have given them a taste of what we do with our youth players and the sort of games that we play, the way we train and the ethos we’re looking to get across. Most of all, we wanted to let them have as much fun as they can do while they’re here on a relatively short trip.”
Manchester United and our Scandinavian supporters’ club would like to thank Cadbury for making this special experience possible as we continue driving generosity and supporting fans together.
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