It has been a very busy summer for the AFC Youth Academy with appearances at a number of high profile tournaments across Europe. The latest trip sees the Aberdeen U14s head to the Netherlands this weekend to play against some of the top teams on the continent.

Neil Simpson previewed the trip and also revealed there will be a familiar face coaching one of the opposing sides:

 
“This weekend the U14s are going to the Netherlands to play in a tournament organised by FC Gravenzande. Although they are a minor side in Holland it is a fantastic tournament which attracts some of Europe’s top clubs. There are eight teams in each section and we all play each other. You then finish with a knockout competition so there will be loads of games for the youngsters. It will be a great experience for them.

“In our group we have to play Willem II and Feyenoord on Friday, the following day we play Bayer Leverkusen, Wolfsburg, Club Brugge and Sparta Rotterdam and then on the Sunday we play Chelsea before the play-off matches.

“The other group is equally as strong. Laranja Mecanica will be travelling over from Brazil, Kashiwa Reysol from Japan, there is also HJK Helsinki from Finland and top Dutch sides Ajax and FC Twente so there is some top top opposition.

“I speak regularly to Theo Snelders who was over in Scotland recently. He was telling me Jeffrey de Visscher is the coach of the FC Twente U14 team. Theo ten Caat is also back working for them, he is the U15 coach and Theo is the goalkeeping coach for the Academy. So there are three ex Dons involved in the Twente Academy.

“I heard from Jeffrey and he is really looking forward to seeing Aberdeen and was saying how much he enjoyed his time at the club.

“It has been a really busy summer for the AFC Youth Academy with all the trips we have had. We are just back from Denmark where the U16s took part in the Ivor Cup. We could have pulled out of the tournament because we had so many of our players on international duty and a number of injuries but we felt it was too good an opportunity for the other players so we just promoted some players from the younger squads. For them to get to the final was a fantastic achievement. Although we lost to Liverpool in the final it was no disgrace because they were a quality team but when you analyse our team and think we had five international players missing, it is very encouraging.

“These tournaments allow the players to play in a competitive environment and see how they cope. So far all the trips have been a great success.  

“In Belgium recently last year’s U14s got to the semi-finals so that was another great achievement against some top Belgium and Dutch sides. It shows Aberdeen manage these tournaments well but even if we did not, it is still a great experience for the players and the coaches.

“The players all feel proud that they are representing Aberdeen Football Club, they are getting the opportunity to test themselves against some of the best kids in Europe and we think the more we do this, the more we expose them to these situations, the better they will become. From a young age they will have a better understanding of the levels they have to reach.

“The U12s next week are also going to the Netherlands for a tournament which means that this year every group within the Academy will have gone abroad.

“The side travelling this weekend are our U14s although there are also a couple of U13s going which again will be good experience for them. Our U14s have a good balance and some really high performing players. It will be a great opportunity to see how they do.

“As well as the players it will be a great experience for the coaches. Steven Sweeney and Lawrence McLennan will take the side whilst Gavin Levey, Head of Academy Coaching, will be one of the staff going. They get to know the players better. You see more of their strengths and weaknesses on and off the pitch.

“I must thank all the sponsors who have helped with the trips. And I need to mention Statoil. They are trying to create heroes of tomorrow. That does not happen overnight, it happens over a period of time. During that period the players have to be learning and developing. The sponsorship deal has really allowed us to come on a lot over the past two seasons.”