Reds prepare for special Dallas visit
The Liverpool FC Foundation Football College has qualified to compete in one of the biggest youth tournaments in the world, the Dallas Cup in Texas.
The college, which is open to boys and girls aged between 16 and 19, provides coaching alongside a suite of academic qualifications, including BTEC Levels 2 and 3 and GCSEs in Maths and English.
Based at Wyncote Sports Ground in south Liverpool, the college is equipped with top-of-the-range facilities supplied by the University of Liverpool.
Held during Easter Week every spring, the invitation-only Dallas Cup selects the best 180 teams to play in the seven different age categories, ranging from U13 through to the prestigious U19 Gordon Jago Super Group.
College scouts attend the majority of tournament games and many students are offered scholarship in the USA as a result of their performances.
Liverpool FC Foundation Football College's squad, which consists of 20 players, will be training with the Houston Dynamos in Houston before travelling to Dallas for the tournament, which runs for nine days from April 12.
The finals will be held at the 90,000-seater Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, which is a former FIFA World Cup venue.
During their time in Texas, the players are placed with American families as part of a homestay programme. This enables them to experience the American culture and way of life.
College directors, Dave Rowe and David MacDiarmid, are former Dallas Cup players themselves and can testify to the sort of impact the tournament can have.
MacDiarmid, said: "The Dallas Cup is a life-changing event for our students. It really broadens their horizons and presents them with many opportunities.
"We have many success stories at the college, where our students have gone on to gain scholarships, university places and coaching jobs. We have a superb team led by head coach, Carl Macauley, consisting of both players released from professional clubs and local grassroots clubs.
"LFC's first-team fitness coach, Jordan Milson, is a perfect example. He competed in the Dallas Cup and gained a scholarship at a prestigious university, which led to him pursuing a successful career in football."
Nathan Quirk, a former Liverpool Academy player and Liverpool FC Foundation Football Foundation College student, also gained a scholarship at one of the top USA Colleges, Akron in Ohio. Whilst at the college, he completed the USA SAT examinations to earn his three-year scholarship.
The Liverpool FC Foundation College is now recruiting for September 2014 with open trials for those aged 16 to 18. The trials take place on March 11, 18 and 25 from 4-6pm at Wyncote Sport Ground, Allerton.
Sessions will consist of an interview and football session. To book a place, please call 0151 724 4983.
If you would like further information about the Liverpool FC Foundation Football College, please email contactus@salteducation.com.