English Schools' Football Association

The Bulmershe School in Valencia, Spain

A group of school children from The Bulmershe School recently returned from a once in a lifetime five day international football development tour to the esteemed Valencia CF Football Club

The highly anticipated tour was organised by Simon Bradbury, a PE teacher at the school in collaboration with specialist sports tour provider inspiresport. The trip was open to pupils of all standards and abilities with the main requirement being a passion for football.

Speaking about the trip Mr Bradbury said, “I chose Valencia as I had been to the same resort and club with another school, and had been extremely impressed with the facilities and training opportunities available. I have a long standing relationship with inspiresport, who organised the tour on our behalf, and believe they truly offer students a once in a lifetime experience, and something a little bit different than your normal sports tour”.

Whilst in Valencia the pupils of The Bulmershe School got to experience some truly exhilarating sporting moments, including training sessions with the professional Valencia CF coaches, as well as watching a youth team match and enjoying a professional league match; Valencia CF v Sporting Gijon. Unsurprisingly all of this has resulted in a significant improvement in individual and team skills according to Mr Bradbury. Not to mention providing a massive thrill for the pupils!

“The highlight of the trip was probably winning our final game against a local team 9-3 - all the boys performed superbly!”

Following their successful Valencia CF experience Mr Bradbury already has plans to take a new party of schoolchildren away on another inspiresport tour in 2012, potentially to Holland.

“These sports development tours are such worthwhile experiences. Some kids will never have this type of experience again, opportunities likes these allow them to develop and mature not just as players but as individuals, and it’s what they will remember in five, ten or twenty years time. I’m already excited about our next tour”.

Tom Shorey Managing Director for inspiresport commented “our main objective in partnership with the professional clubs is to make a difference to young people’s lives through providing unique access for all standards of players to the top domestic and international clubs across the world”.

“In days of increased legislation and increasing commitments on teaching staff, it is too easy for teachers not to bother to organise trips outside the classroom, even though there are undoubted benefits”.

“I was so pleased that The Bulmershe School were able to go ahead with their tour to Valencia CF and that they feel such an experience can play a part in enhancing a young person’s education”.

For more information on the official sports tour partner to the English Schools' FA go to www.inspiresport.com