Pompey Academy have travelled to The Netherlands, as part of a pre-season trip organised by League Football Education (LFE).
Pompey are one of eight clubs participating in the pre-season trip which includes taking on their peers at top Dutch clubs until the trip’s conclusion on Sunday 12 August.
Fixtures are scheduled against FC Dordrecht on Saturday 4 August and Vitesse Arnhem on Tuesday 7 August, as well as a tournament the following Saturday.
Watch excellent head work from the young Blues prior to the squad leaving Portsmouth.
The initiative – fully subsidised by the Erasmus+ fund – promotes development and facilitates the exchange of skills and ideas between coaches and players in both countries.
Pompey along with Grimsby Town are based at FC Emmen, Rochdale and Birmingham City have headed to VVV Venlo, Leeds United and Sheffield United are hosted by FC Twente, while Crewe Alexandra and Newport County are staying with FC Groningen.
The Dutch experience has been designed to broaden personal and professional horizons, with the players scheduled to take part in a range of cultural activities. These include language lessons, a visit to the Overloon War Museum and a trip to Amsterdam city centre, as well as footgolf, an Amsterdam Arena tour and tickets to watch Eredivisie champions PSV play against KNVB Cup winners Feyenoord in the Johan Cruyff Shield, held at the Philips Stadion in Eindhoven.
On the pitch, Pompey will experience training sessions led by the European coaches to prepare for testing fixtures against Eredivisie clubs Feyenoord and NAC Breda, and Belgian First Division side KAA Gent.
LFE Project Manager Dan Jolley said: “This initiative meets the cultural and sporting aims aligned to Erasmus+ and at the same time allows over one-hundred players in the English academy system the opportunity to sample life, training and work in another European nation.
“Many of them will experience playing against continental opposition for the first time. Learning about different styles of play, coaching and tactics can only help them become better players.”
Photo: Brian Kay