Back in 2019, we kicked off our initial sponsorship with AFC Sudbury with the new Girls Academy team and we are thrilled to hear that the girls team have brought it home!
After a 6-day tour in Miami, the AFC Sudbury Academy has returned home victorious with the Girls U19’s taking it to the wire with an epic penalty shootout, finishing with a 7-6 win!
The US tour is a massive organisation that requires a dedicated team of staff, numerous outings and trips and with 8 staff and 59 Academy students, lots of kit. We are delighted that we, as ongoing sponsors have been part of enabling the tour to go ahead and give these gifted young players such a life changing opportunity.
We have a great relationship with the club and feel proud of what they have achieved over the years and how many young players they have brought on and given such a fantastic opportunity to. Over the last three years we have become the sole sponsor of the club’s new and upgraded home and away kit for both men and women’s teams across all age groups and it was the perfect opportunity to support the Academy teams as they planned the US tour this year.
AFC Sudbury makes the US tour a fully rounded trip for these young players with extra trips to visit colleges, to watch soccer games and some sightseeing thrown in. This year they headed to Miami which was the destination of the cancelled tour of 2020 and the first trip since the pandemic so an exciting time for the club
Over the last five years, the tour has whetted the appetite for many of the young players to pursue playing and studying opportunities within the USA Collegiate sports system and enjoy a sporting / university experience unparalleled anywhere in the world.
The tour itself gives the opportunity to play competitive soccer against American opposition in an exciting tournament structure and the club also took two boys teams to play in separate competitions at the Enigma Cup, For the remainder of the tour, the organisers cram in as many sightseeing and fun activities that help bond the group as well as teach independence, decision making and other valuable memories and life lessons.
The tour also gets players thinking of the opportunities that the USA can bring and impressively, the Academy are graduating 6 of their own to USA Colleges this Summer.
It is a privilege to sponsor such a dedicated and dynamic club and be a part of their success, and after the current performance of the England team, maybe we are looking at the new stars of the future!
