APD Elite Tour 2022
Let's get started…
Our APD elite squad is made up from a selection of scholars from Halley, Victory and Holcombe! (Go visit their individual pages!) We select players with hard work and dedication within the academy but also within their educational studies.
We ensure that each tour has the best fixtures possible along with great experiences for the players and staff. Let's find out what we did:
FIXTURES
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FIXTURES ~
Our first fixture of the tour was against Tranmere Rovers FC. We travelled to their training ground as a squad. Upon arrival, we were shown to our APD changing room where the preparations began! All players had a pre match meeting with Head Coach Dan before leaving for the game, but the preparations didn't end there. Team talks and warmups started prior to kick off.
All of our coaches at APD are very educated on the preparation process for games! We as an academy know the best ways to structure and deliver warmups to our players in order to optimise their performance on the pitch!
Kick off began! Our players were introduced to a new level of football due to the high standard that Tranmere played at. Despite this, our players individually and as a team dealt with the level of play very well. We created chances and developed as a team through our resilience and passion throughout the game! Despite a 5-0 loss, our performance was excellent and the boys did APD proud!
Our second fixture was against Mansfield FC. A very developed and driven club. We travelled there with a great attitude and winning mentality. We knew that with hard work and dedication within the game, we would give a great performance.
Preparations started as soon as the players were shown to their dressing room. Halley Head Coach Joe took the game. He ensured that the players knew what was expected of them as soon as they sat down. His team talk before the warmup put the players mindset in the right place to win straight away!
Kick off underway and we show great resilience against Mansfield from the get go! We went 1-0 up early minutes of the game. For the duration of the game, we ensured that we stuck to our plans and goals set in the games pre match in order to reach high levels as individuals and as a squad!
WE GET THE WIN! With a very good performance from our boys, they earned a 2-0 win! The boys were buzzing and the atmosphere within the squad was amazing. With one more fixture to go, it was time to travel back and regroup for our final game of tour!
New Saints. Our final game!
We checked into New Saints FC as a squad ready for the game. With the clubs history and achievements, we were aware of the standard that they played. The same as all of our games, our preparation started with a pre match in the morning and was then taken onto the pitch. Warmups began and with the great facilities within the stadium, the boys were ready to go.
Our boys have never played at a standard so high. We gave them the opportunity to showcase their talents to a whole new audience and be aware of what is expected when you are at the top! Throughout the game, each player showed that they wanted to represent themselves and APD in the best possible way. Never gave up, always wanted the ball and worked as a team!
The final score of a 12-0 loss wasn't the result we wanted yet we only learned! Our message to the boys after the game was that in football you either win or learn. We believe that this game was a lesson for all players. They have played against players of a performance level that they have never played against before. They can now take elements of their game and put it into their own. All players will grow as individuals and as a team after the Saints game!
Our experiences
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Our experiences ~
Manchester City vs Athletico Madrid - Champions League Quarter Final!!!!!
As a surprise for the players and staff, we took them to the Etihad for a night like no other! For a lot of our players, this was their first live game of football that they had seen so for it to be this game was unreal! We arrived at the Etihad as a team and toom our seats. All players were enjoying the warmup and the atmosphere created by the fans. As the game started, all players were having a great time whilst watching their favourite players live! Our players could see how the professionals perform from a close view. They can now see what they have to do in certain situations and how they can take their own game to the next level!
Manchester City Stadium Tour:
We also took our players back to the Etihad for a stadium tour. The boys got to see a real insight on what goes on during matchday as a City player and how they prepare and recover for each home game. The boys were educated by a tour guide throughout the tour where he answered all questions they had and could give them more in depth knowledge of what its like to be a City player!
