Camden New Journal - Sports: League stars tell the Pro Touch kids to keep chasing their goals

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Camden New Journal - by STEVE BARNETT
Published: 10 January 2008

League stars tell the Pro Touch kids to keep chasing their goals

TWO top football stars turned out to help the Pro Touch Soccer Academy celebrate their first anniversary and encourage wannabe professionals to keep chasing their goals.
Camden Town’s Anthony Wordsworth and Islington’s Ryan Smith have become beacons for talented young players after overcoming the odds to sign pro contracts with their respective clubs, Colchester United and Millwall.
In a special question-and-answer session, the midfield maestros gave future stars tips and advice on how they can improve their chances of making it within the professional ranks.
Both Anthony and Ryan also showed their support for the Pro Touch Soccer Academy, which was set up in a bid to help disadvantaged players fulfil their dreams of making it in the often harsh world of football.
A year ago more than 40 youngsters were put through their paces in a series of intense matches and grueling training drills at Market Road before organisers selected just 18 players to become the first-ever Pro Touch squad.
To celebrate a highly successful start to life the academy is inviting scores of talented young footballers back to the Astroturf pitches to take part in a new series of trials as coaches set their sights on finding the next generation of star footballers.
PTSA director Ash Rahman was full of confidence as he revealed what the next 12 months has in store for those involved with the academy. “We’re hoping to confirm a series of testing friendly matches which will see our youth teams take on sides representing the youth academies from Reading, MK Dons, Charlton and Queen’s Park Rangers,” he said.
“Although we haven’t yet seen any of the boys go on to sign for professional clubs, we’re confident that by the end of the summer at least three or four of our players will have been snapped up by top clubs.”
Trials for the Pro Touch Soccer Academy take place on Sunday, January 20 at Market Road. Players must be 11 to 15 years old.

• For more information check out www.protouchsocceracademy.com

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