Our under 12 squad went to the Wigan v Arsenal game in april 2009. The tour was over the weekend of april 11th to april 14th 2009.
The tour was oversubscribed and there was a standby list. in place. What is included:
- Three nights half board in a 3 star hotel
- premiership match attendance between wigan and arsenal
- one day entrance to alton towers
- tour of old trafford
- one game and training session in wigan
- coach from strandhill that remains with us for the tour
- return ferry crossings
The tour also saw our club hosted by Hindley Juniors in a superb evening. Details including a video of the games are on the Hindley Juniors website www.hindleyjuniors.com
We were also hosted by Wigan in the guise of Maurice Lindsay who has sligo connections. Maurice met us and brought everyone on to the pitch where Steve Bruce came out and met the travelling party.
Our tour organiser was John Mcgovern who successfully managed last years tour to Glasgow.
The 2009 tour will allow the kids to see Cesc Fabergas in action as we will be attending the Wigan v Arsenal game at the JJB Stadium which will allow all our players to see the great spainard in action.
From promising youngster to the heartbeat of the Arsenal side - Cesc has come a long way since joining the club as a 16-year-old in September 2003.
Likeable and level-headed off the pitch, Cesc is the complete midfielder on it. He has always been tigerish in the tackle and blessed with wonderful technique and vision, but Cesc added a new dimension to his game last season - goals, and plenty of them. He netted seven times in his first nine games and, although that scoring rate fell away, Cesc still ended up with 13 in all competitions. There were some belters too, including long-range efforts at Tottenham and Milan.
To nobody's surprise, the fulcrum of Arsène Wenger's side walked away with Arsenal.com's Player of the Season award for the second successive year. He has plenty of admirers outside Emirates Stadium too, not least among his peers - they voted him PFA Young Player of the Year.
The Spaniard first came to prominence at the Under-17s World Cup when he walked off with awards for best player and top scorer. Soon after arriving from Barcelona he became Arsenal's youngest ever player and scorer. By the time he had left his teenage years behind, Cesc had surpassed 150 appearances for the Club.
Of course, the 21-year-old is now also a fixture in Spain's national squad and played a major role in his country's Euro 2008 triumph. Cesc came off the bench to devastating effect in the group stage and netted a penalty shoot-out winner against Italy in the Quarter-Finals - his first spot-kick as a professional.
In addition we will visit Old Trafford, the home of current European Champions Manchester United.
The itenirary is as follows:
WIGAN V’S ARSENAL
STRAND CELTIC FC
DAY 1 – THURSDAY 9TH APRIL, 2009
2115 Coach Pick up from Strand Celtic, Strandhill, Co Sligo.
COACH COMPANY:
LIBERTY TOURS
TEL: 01 8625829
DAY 1 – FRIDAY 10TH APRIL, 2009
0115 Check-in at Dublin Port for your Stena Line sailing to Holyhead
0215 Depart Dublin Port(journey time: approx 3 hrs 15 mins)
0530 Arrive Holyhead and transfer to Manchester
Free time in Manchester for the morning.
Tour of Old Trafford Stadium
2 tours have been booked for you
Ref: 282699 @ 12.40
Ref: 282698 @ 12.50
After the tour, transfer to your hotel, for checkin and dinner
1500 Checkin to your hotel:
BRITANNIA COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL
PALATINE ROAD
DIDSBURY
MANCHESTER
M20 8UF
TEL: 0044 161 4343411
1530 Dinner will be served at your hotel.
1630 Challenge match in Hindley, Manchester(approx 20mins from hotel)
Transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at your hotel
DAY 2 – SATURDAY 11TH APRIL 2009
Breakfast will be served in your hotel.
0930-1000 Depart hotel
Match in Wigan against Wigan School of Excellence in the morning
Transfer to Wigan for the Premiership match:
1500 Kick off
WIGAN V ARSENAL
JJB STADIUM
ROBIN PARK COMPLEX
NEWTOWN
WIGAN WN5 0UZ
Transfer to the hotel
Dinner will be served at your hotel.
Ice-skating in Blackburn arena this evening.
Overnight at your hotel.
DAY 3 – SUNDAY 12TH APRIL, 2009
Breakfast at your hotel
Full day at Alton Towers
0930 Gates open
1000 Rides start
1700 Park closes
Dinner will be served at your hotel.
Cinema this evening.
Overnight at your hotel.
DAY 4 – MONDAY 13TH APRIL, 2009
Breakfast will be served at your hotel.
This morning, visit Wigan Athletic training ground.
Transfer to Holyhead for your return sailing to Dublin.
1310 Check in for return sailing to Dublin
1410 Depart Holyhead for your return sailing to Dublin
(approx sailing time 3hrs 15 minutes)
1725 Arrive Dublin and continue by coach to Strandhill, Sligo.
WELCOME HOME
**************
The following is a checklist for everyone travelling to Wigan:
PLAYERS
Two pairs of plain white shorts and socks for matches
Three sets of training gear - including a couple of rainjackets in case of bad weather
Two towels for after training if weather is bad
Strand Celtic Club bag provided
Strand Celtic Club training top provided
Strand Celtic club tracksuit
Strand Celtic club rainjacket - black or green
Football boots and astro boots/runners
Shinguards
MP3/iPod/Games/Books or anything to keep your kid happy on the bus !
Washbag etc.
Travel sickness tablets
You may want to give them a blanket/sleeping bag for the bus journey overnight
Warm jumpers/fleece
Jeans and runners
MANAGERS/PARENTS
Passport
Change of socks and underwear
Patience !
CONTACT NUMBERS [FOR EMERGENCY USE ONLY]
John McGovern 087 970 8444
Damien McCallion 087 686 0096 |