The year-long football study’s immersion scholarship programme we have here at BWFCISS with our international gateway partners EduKick had the experience of a lifetime. The players got to train on the Reebok Stadium pitch itself!

The Reebok stadium is one of the most iconic stadiums in the world and with its state-of-the-art Desso system pitch. BWFCISS manager Dave Bailey and his team put them through their paces in a three-hour session which ended in a full 11 v. 11 game at the end.

“We would like to thank Richard and his grounds staff team here at the Reebok,” said Bailey. “What a great opportunity for the boys to really understand what it’s like for our first team when they play on the Reebok.”

The boys worked on passing and receiving, as possession in the game is now more prominent at the elite level. An interesting fact: most games now have over 1000 passes per game and most passes are below head height. Passing and receiving opportunities have increased 20 percent since 2002, so the boys had a real insight into how the modern game is developing as they have had throughout the year.

The players’ excitement was there for all to see as they began with the day with a team talk in the first team dressing room about what the session involved and how the session was going to develop. They then went down the first team (home) tunnel and out on to the famous Reebok stadium pitch. The boys were in for a real treat.

“The boys did themselves proud throughout the day and will take the experience with them for the rest of their lives,” Bailey said. “Not all get this experience of a lifetime, and we now hope to have this as annual event for the football studies course we have here.”

The event was filmed, so stay tuned for upcoming footage!

Want to see some pictures of the event? Click here!