Working in partnership with Cuadrilla and Centrica, it is the second year AFC Fylde Community Foundation have run the ‘Train Like A Pro’ course. The bespoke development programme is unlike any regular football camp. It focuses directly on how professionals train and gives local children and grassroots teams the opportunity to take part in sport in a professional football environment.
The lucky youngsters from St Annes FC, girls and boys, have this week been involved in an action packed week of football and activity. However, when it came to the last day, the children got a surpise when they were invited to Mill Farm – the home of AFC Fylde – for an access all areas tour of the stadium. This included going on the pitch, sitting in the dugout and even visiting the changing rooms and sitting in their favourite players seats. The tour was a great opportunity for the children to get more of a feel for the professional environment and give them great memories to remember the end of their Train Like a Pro programme.
Foundation Director Tom Hutton is grateful for the support which allows the Foundation to be able to run successful programmes such as Train Like A Pro. He said: “Train Like A Pro is a fantastic programme in which the children really get to leave feeling they’ve lived the life of a pro for the days they have attended. To be able to offer the children experiences like stadium visits is a great feeling for myself. I’m extremely grateful for the support of Cuadrilla and Centrica and fully appreciate that without this, the programme simply would not be able to benefit many youngsters as it does.”
