Manchester United - World Skills Final

As I said in my last post - What a dream to play at the 'Theatre of Dreams', to run on the hallowed turf of Old Trafford. 

Well, every year the top players from the Manchester United Soccer School go to a long weekend event where they compete at football skills to be the winner of the World Skills final. When I say the World Skills final, I really mean it. These are the best players from every school that Manchester United has, so UAE, USA, Europe, Australasia, Far East and India, aswell as UK 

When I first started at MUSS I was determined to win a place at that final, I told my Mum that I would get there. It took 5 years to do it, but then I made the final for the last three years of my attending the school. I was the first player to make it to the final for three years, there were a few that had done two. I was presented with Welbeck's signed shirt as a well done by the MUSS training staff. 

The weekend at the final is amazing, beyond all dreams. All the finalists and a parent/carer stay in a lovely hotel in Manchester. We had a meet and greet meal on the first evening where we would get to know the other finalists, again some of the people I met here have become good friends, and some are also now signed to Championship clubs. 

The next day we spent at Carrington - Manchester United's training facility. It's an amazing place with pitches as pristine as you'll ever see. The indoor training has everything you would ever need, with indoor pitches, various training aids for target shooting, dribbling, shooting etc. The gymnasium has all sorts of equipment and the training rooms have all the up to date equipment. 

Oh - and the car park is pretty impressive, along with the first team players amazing cars and a Chap washing them all !!!!

We trained with the first team coaches in the morning including Rene Meulensteen and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, it was hard training but I learnt so much from them. 

In the afternoon we went over to watch the first team training, and then amazingly had the chance to have a kick around with them and spend some time talking and getting autographs - how incredible to meet these footballers and kick a ball around with them. 

The next day we went to Old Trafford and played on the pitch prior to a premiership game. The crowd watched as we played a game and showed some of our skills. I was interviewed by the Manchester United commentator - Alan Keegan, who is lovely and whose Daughter I also became friends with through MUSS

Anyone attending MUSS will benefit from the experience, learn about football and themselves, and meet such amazing new friends

Anyone getting through to the World Skills Final - WILL NEVER FORGET IT