During the holiday periods in the Summer, October and April months, Aberdeen Football Club hold training camps for the U17 Squad. The training camps allow players to receive intense training sessions along with having time to work on more tactical components of match play over a three day period.

From the 13th to 15th of October, signed U17 squad players attended their annual October holiday training camp and were joined by six young players from Ireland who travelled over for a trial period.  Kevin Williams, Dillon Robinson and Dara Lowth ,Sean Carmody, Michael Slattery and Alex Ariguzo were identified by Head of Recruitment Jim Fraser when he travelled over to observe players participating in the recent Galway Cup tournament.

Previously training camps such as this one, allowed AFC to identify players from Ireland such as Joe Shaughnessy, Danny Rodgers and David Craddock, who performed well during their trial period they were eventually signed on full time contracts.

The players were based at the Gordon Barracks in Aberdeen, which has been the base for previous Youth Academy training camps.  The camp involved three training sessions at Balgownie Playing Fields, followed by a practice match which was held at Banks O Dee Stadium on the Thursday morning.  The players were also fortunate enough that the Scotland U21 team were playing Iceland in their European U21 Qualifier on the Tuesday at Pittodrie and received tickets to attend.

The travelling players were accompanied by their team managers Ken O’Connor and Pat Carmody who were both very impressed with the set up at AFC, along with the quality of coaching and the friendly approach by everyone at the club.  The club wishes to thank the teams involved and the FAI for allowing the players to travel over.

Thanks must also go to Youth Academy Scouts Brian Wright, Dougie Main and Kevin Lynch who helped set up the barracks and supervised the players over the three days.

Thanks must also go to Youth Academy Scouts Brian Wright, Dougie Main and Kevin Lynch who helped set up the barracks and supervised the players over the three days.