Frank Lampard inspired a group of Everton schoolboys to international success with a message delivered just before their final.
Everton Football College clinched victory in the World School Games in Barcelona after dominating the competition - finishing with a goal difference of +22. The Under-17s side beat Nastic Soccer Academy 2-0 in the final, securing the college’s first international silverware in the process.
The triumph was a major step forward for the college, which offers academic courses alongside opportunities to develop within football - as players and coaches - at sites across Merseyside. The side will be parading the trophy on the pitch at Goodison Park at half-time during the game with Leicester City on Saturday.
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Among the coaching team is Blues FA Cup winner Joe Parkinson, who joined the college setup after stepping away from his role with Football League side Hartlepool United. Speaking of his pride at the boys’ achievement in Spain he said: “It was a brilliant experience for the players. The results were great, we were convincing in a lot of performances and the lads enjoyed it. They got out of their comfort zone and did ever so well. When they came back they were buzzing. It’s a massive learning curve for them, even away from football as we try to give the students the skills they learn from going away from home as part of their development into young adults.”
The sixth-form initiative is a pathway for some to earn scholarships in the USA and, with a number of students being talented footballers released from academy setups, gives them a chance to work towards academic qualifications while still receiving coaching that has helped graduates find a way back into the game. Ahead of the final, the students were sent messages by Blues boss Lampard and chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale.
John Keegan, Head of Football at the college said: “It is an amazing achievement by our players to become world champions and win our first international competition as a college. The professionalism of the players and staff on and off the pitch during the tournament was outstanding, and the driving force behind our success. I told the boys before the tournament that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to make a piece of history for the college and the football club.
“It was also amazing for us to receive that message of support from our CEO Denise Barrett-Baxendale and Frank Lampard. All the boys in the 16-man squad are first year boys who have actually only been with the college for 10 weeks, so a massive credit should be given to all of our coaches who have prepared the boys unbelievably well on the training pitch since the boys started with us in pre-season. Hopefully this trophy will be the first of many trophies for us this season.”
*The next college open evening, for Year 11 students, will be at Goodison Park on Thursday, November 24 between 6pm and 7.30pm.
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