This March, our Rapids 2011 Boys visited England. On their trip, they went to London, Manchester, and Liverpool. While our boys were heavily immersed in English soccer, they also got to experience English culture, food, and history.
There was no rest for the weary as the 12U (2011) boys landed in London on March 12th and went straight from Heathrow Airport to a Sunday evening Premier League match between Aston Villa v. West Ham United. Bubbles blowing, crowds cheering, and their first taste of steak pie set the stage for a week jam-packed with sightseeing, more pro games, and their friendly matches against English peers.
The players experienced a training session led by former Everton Academy Director, Ray Hall, who provided a different coaching perspective to the players and also shared his story about identifying and coaching a young Wayne Rooney. Another exciting moment on the training ground for the boys was encountering the crew of YouTube creator SV2, who were generous to take some selfies and give fist bumps to the players! The group wrapped up the week by taking in the FA Cup Quarterfinal match between Manchester City and Burnley, in which they were treated to an Erling Haaland hat-trick and a decisive City victory!
Led by WorldStrides Tour Directors Freddy and Lucas, the travelers marveled at the historical landmarks of Windsor Castle, Tower of London, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace, as well as the football meccas of Stamford Bridge (home of Chelsea FC) and Old Trafford (home of Manchester United).
Many thanks to Coach Josh, Coach Colin, and Coach Brandon for providing a memorable experience for all 67 CRSYC players, parents, and siblings!
“Amazing trip combining sports and culture. The experience of playing against high quality competition positively pushed the players growth. The players also benefitted from traveling in a group and building their independence.”
- Mark M., participating parent
“Flawless from beginning to end, starting from communication through execution.”
- Soby G., participating parent
Join a CRYSC International trip in 2024! The 12U, 14U, and High School competitive program trip slate for Spring 2024 will be announced in May. If you want to learn more about CRYSC international tours or customized international team trips, please visit our webpage or contact our Director of Club and International Partnerships, Jeff Oleck, at [email protected].
