Liverpool visits local schools

Eight schools here were the beneficiaries of visits from the members of the Liverpool Football Academy Under-18 team and its coaching staff on Friday, May 20 and Saturday, May 21.{{more}}

The Liverpool Academy Under-18 team, which was on a five day trip here, courtesy the Buccament Bay Resort, visited the Kingstown Preparatory School, the CW Prescod School, Thomas Saunders Secondary School and the St. Vincent Grammar School on Friday and presented their Prinicpals with tokens.

Among the tokens were a quantity of footballs and an authographed Liverpool jersey signed by the members of the team.

Players and coaches then met the respective schools’ football teams in an hour coaching session at the Grammar School Playing Field, in which basic football drills were passed on them.

Additionally, the young Liverpool players displayed some of their talents to the local youngsters. They were also involved in an autograph session as well as a meet and greet ceremony with the local schools’ football players and other students from the institutions.

On Saturday, May 21, it was the turn of the Buccament Bay Secondary School, the Buccament Bay Primary School, the Clare Valley Government School and the Questelles Government School, as similar coaching sessions were conducted on the astro turf football facility at the Buccament Bay Resort.

Split into two sessions, the youngsters, many of whom were from the Resort’s Academy intake, were engaged in practical sessions with the Liverpool coaching staff and players.

The presentation of Liverpool gift bags and other paraphanelia of the club were donated to the many aspiring young footballers from the South Leeward area.

The Buccament Bay Resort Soccer Academy is headed by local Football Coach, Roger Gurley, with his assistants, Marlon James and Ralph Stowe.

Gurley and Stowe, last year journeyed to England and received three days of coaching at the Liverpool Football Academy.

Laura Vallati, Executive Director of Spa and Leisure at the Buccament Bay Resort, told SEARCHLIGHT that she was overwelmed with the response from the schools.

Vallati said she was especially pleased with the steelband welcome that the Liverpool Academy Under-18 team got when they visited the CW Prescod Primary School.

She revealed that the response from Vincentians on the visit of the team had surpassed their expectations.

Vallati’s comments was also shared by many of the Liverpool players, who expressed appreciation for the hospitality received from the Vincentian public while here.

The Liverpool Academy Under-18 team, played a lone friendly international against a St. Vincent and the Grenadines Under-20 team, which the former won 4-1.

The match was played last Thursday at the Arnos Vale Playing Field.

The Liverpool Under -18 Academy team leaves the state today. (RT)