FC VICTORIA | Professional Trials and Visiting Team Development Programs for Canada's Youth Soccer Community

SCOTTISH LEGEND WORKS WITH LOCAL YOUTH
Gordon Wallace, director of youth football at Dundee FC flew into Victoria this week as guest of FC Victoria. While the boys did some catch-up since they last saw each other at Dundee, they also brought Gordon to a few training sessions here in Victoria.

Both the first team and reserves with Victoria Highlanders FC trained under the watchful eye of Wallace, the #2 all time leading goal scorer in the Scottish Premier League. He has been involved in the game for over 50 years. His involvement in demonstrating to the players was fascinating, his touch as deft as ever.

Gordon also worked with the school academies at Dunsmuir Middle School and Reynolds Secondary School. While the standard of play with the younger school aged youth was different than the Highlanders FC group, the messages and demonstrations were as insightful and with purpose.

Mr. Wallace has been a regular visitor of FC Victoria the past three summers and it is hoped we will see him in Victoria a year from now.

McAULEY & COMPANY ADAPT TO CHANGE
Sheffield Wednesday FC Academy Director, Sean McAuley led an engaging training session yesterday for soccer coaches of all levels at the new Alex Campbell Sr. field at Camosun College's PISE facility.

McAuley and his team are identifying and documenting transition in the way the game has evolved since the Premiership structure came into inception in the early 1990's. Through analysis of their research, they continue to evolve their academy structure and implementation of training & sports science at Sheffield Wednesday FC.

FREE COACHING CLINIC
Saturday, April 25th | PISE Field 9:00am - 10:30pm

Victoria Highlanders FC are sponsoring an open clinic for all soccer coaches on Vancouver Island. Academy coaches visiting from Sheffield Wednesday FC will be presenting live drills with Victoria Highlanders Reserve players.

Carl Wells kicks off the clinic with a physical session followed by Matt Burton with skills work. The clinic will then be completed with functional training led by SWFC Academy Director, Sean McAuley and his assistant, Nev Burbeary.

Time will be made available for questions with the Academy coaches following the on-field sessions.

YOUNG OWLS ON TOUR

Youth soccer with an international flavour hits our sleepy capital this weekend. Visiting u11 & u13 boys soccer teams from the Sheffield Wednesday FC Academy compete with select teams from Victoria, Nanaimo, Abbotsford & Langley over a four day period.

The visitors are here on a cultural exchange with Dunsmuir Middle School Soccer Academy students. They are experiencing home stays and training with the students in the school environment. It's a win/win environment for guests & hosts.

Tour schedule is as follows;

Saturday, April 25th | Layritz Park

4:30pm    Owls U11 vs. LISA U12

5:30pm    Owls U13 vs. LISA U14

Sunday, April 26th | Hampton Park

10:00am - 1:00pm   INAUGURAL  OWL CUP

Sunday, April 26th | UVic Turf

3:00pm - 6:00pm    INAUGURAL OWL CUP

Monday, April 27th | City Centre Field (Langford)

4:30pm    Owls U11 vs. LISA U12

5:30pm    Owls U13 vs. LISA U14

Tuesday, April 28th | Layritz Park

4:30pm    Owls U11 vs. Nanaimo U11

5:30pm    Owls U13 vs. LISA U14

McAULEY RETURNS WITH PARLIAMENT OF OWLS
Popular Sheffield Wednesday FC Academy Manager, Sean McAuley returns to Victoria the last week of April as guest of FC Victoria.

He is leading training sessions with the Victoria Highlander Reserves, Dunsmuir School Academy, Reynolds School Academy and educating coaches from youth and adult clubs from the Lower Island Associations.