FOUR of Murray United’s young guns are set for a whirlwind tour of Europe, playing against some of the powerhouses of the English Premier League.
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The end game is to be identified by one of the clubs and given a head start to a European soccer career.
Fletcher Caponecchia, Jack Milford, Joshua Marks and Isaac Read will fly out on Monday to play against academy teams from West Ham, Liverpool and Scottish side Hearts in the two week tour.
The quartet will also be put through their paces at St Georges Park, the English FAs 100-million pound training centre, in a 2½-hour session under the eye of Arsenal scout Geore Mackie.
The now under-16s were scouted during the NPL season and on the day Melbourne Victory played against the Border club in September.
Murray United technical director and junior football manager Paul Millynn said it was another step forward in the growth of the club and its junior talent.
“Without question this will be a great experience and I would recommend that any player do it,” he said.
“Do they have a chance of being selected – yes they do but it’s minimal, still it’s more chance than I have of winning Powerball and yet I take a ticket every week.
“Look at the newest Australian debutant, Albury-born James Meredith – he went to a Derby academy trial when selectors were looking at Leigh Broxham and ended up been selected himself instead.
“These four players have the same chance if they excel in games and training whilst under the supervision of Harry Bingham and George Cowey for West Ham Oceania academy squad.”
All four were part of Murray United’s under-15 squad that finished mid-table in its first year in the NPL competition under coach James Bell.
Millynn said touring squads were an option for United in the future.
“Eventually down the track MUFC may take its own u16 team each year on a tour before moving into senior ranks,” he said.
“With James Coutts personal contacts with many EPL clubs this is probably closer than we think.”
“But the reality is that this is what the club was set up to do – provide opportunities to young players in the region that they would otherwise miss out on.”
Murray United is currently trialling juniors and working on a fitness program for next year – 14s, 15s and 16s at South Albury’s Waite Park each Monday and Wednesday nights.
The under-12s and 13s are undergoing trials at Willow Park, Wodonga from 5.30pm to 7.30pm also on Monday and Wednesday nights.
