Aberdeen U14s last weekend went to the Netherlands to play in a high profile tournament with some of the World’s biggest club’s involved. This weekend the U12 are also flying across the North Sea to Holland for what will be the final European tournament of the summer for the AFC Youth Academy. Head of Academy Coaching Gavin Levey has been on the majority of the trips, six in total and he gave an honest assessment of last weekend which highlighted just why these competitions along with the partnership with Statoil are so important:
 

“I have to say the U14 tournament last weekend was the best tournament we have been to standard wise. The best tournament organisation wise. On and off the pitch it was a big operation with a lot of sponsors.

“We played nine games and everyone was meaningful. Everyone had something at stake. Every game was hard. Playing meaningful games at this level is really important for the boys development.  

“It really hit home what we were up against in the opening ceremony. With 1,500 people watching on the teams are announced alphabetically. Out we come, then we are followed by Ajax, then followed by Borussia Dortmund and then Chelsea. It is like a Champions league group.

“Result wise we did ok. We lost a last minute goal to Chelsea and got beat 1-0. Their side was taken by Tore Andre Flo. We played really well in that game. The eventual winners of the competition Leverkusen, we got beat 2-0 but again played well. We also beat FC Twente, coached by Jeffery de Visscher 2-1. So there were certain games we have performed in, whilst in certain games we were really up against it due to the level of competition.  

“We have a strong side at this level, they are a good group who in Scotland do really well. A couple of seasons back they went through the whole campaign only losing one game. So the weekend was a really good learning curve for them.

“It is vital our players are not sheltered away from playing against the very best players.

“I spoke to the players on Saturday lunchtime. Although they are technically good players, every player they played against in the tournament was technically excellent. There was not one technically poor player. That was a fact. Where these teams do well is that they have more athletes but that is not at the detriment of technique.

“In this county there is a thought that you are technically good or you are big and strong and physical. With these top academies technique is just a given and then they start developing the athletic abilities that these players have from a very young age. You are also up against acadmies who are recruiting from all over the world so of course we cannot be expected to be beating all these sides but at the same time our players have to realise that there is a level above what they are playing at week in week out in Scotland.

“And these tournaments expose us to that.  

“The teams we played against were also tactically smarter. They trap you, the kids you play against are thinkers, they think as a group and think individually and they move well. As I say we have very good technical players but it is the little bits of extra detail that make the difference.

“If we our players can learn these little details, then you will see a massive difference in their ability.

“The biggest thing I took away from the weekend was that we need to be doing these tournaments with players at the youngest age possible. That was the first time that age group had been abroad to a tournament – they are 13 and 14 years of age. Our players now know the level they need to be at.

“The earlier our players are made aware of the level they need to reach the better. They can get an understanding of the standard they need to reach and get a better appreciation of just how hard they need to work if they are to have a career in football at the top level.

“When the current U11s get to this age group (U14 level) and get to go to that tournament if we are fortunate enough to be invited back, that squad will have been abroad four or five times. A European tournament will just be part of their annual programme.  

“We really are grateful to the partnership with Statoil. I must thank them for helping support and raise our profile to enable us to be invited to such prestigious tournaments in Europe.

“The trip would also not be possible without the hard work of our staff. I must thank coaches Steven Sweeney, Lawrence Mclelland and Greg Moir, Video Analyst Keiren Cruikshank and our Physio for the trip Jenni Butler.”

The club would also like to thank KR Steel Services, Barry Morrison Timber Harvesting and parents for contributing towards the trip.

“This weekend we are back for another competition in the Netherlands with a very similar group of teams. It is our U12 who are going across. This group have been away before but not playing against teams of this standard:

“Bayer Leverkusen, AZ Alkmar (Top Academy in Holland Award 2nd year running), Feyenoord, Borussia Dortmund, Genk, Chelsea, FC Twente, VVV Venlo, MVC (host club), Monchengladbach, PSV

“Again it will be a great learning curve for their development.”