Tour to Bolton and Everton

U11s and U12s at Dunfermline Athletic are getting a great insight in to what it takes to become a professional football player.

Dunfermline Athletic U11's and U12's enjoyed a fantastic trip to Bolton Wanderers and Everton on the first weekend in April. The players along with coaches Grant Petrie, Dougie Coulston, Kevin Bathgate, Graeme Colmer, Conor Little, Colin McGregor and parents left East End Park early on Saturday morning to travel down to Bolton Wanderer's Youth Academy for the afternoon kick off's.

Afterwards they were guests at Bolton Wanderers v Wolves at the Reebok Stadium at 3.00pm. The young players were then taken to a nearby Italian restaurant for pasta and pizza to re-fuel, before resting at the hotel next to the Reebok Stadium.

The hotel was situated within a one mile radius from the academy, stadium and restaurant, so gave the players an ideal chance to rest their legs after a long day travelling and an early start to play Everton the next morning.

On Sunday morning the bus left to take the Young Pars to Everton's state of the art training complex at Finch Farm in Liverpool. After playing very well against Everton's Academy teams the players, parents and coaches were treated to a fantastic tour of the full training complex from Head of Academy Alan Irvine and Academy co-ordinator Joel Waldron.

Stephen Wright accompanied the players said:-

"Once again our young players have been very lucky to be invited to top English Academies to experience different styles and compare themselves to English Academy players.

The staff at both Academies couldn't have been more accommodating and were very complimentary of our young players. Our kids at Dunfermline Athletic are getting a great insight in to what it takes to become a professional football player.

They were a credit to our club and it is an experience they will remember for a long time. Alan and Joel very kindly took the time out for a 90 minute tour of the complex, highlights for our young players was to see where Everton first team train and to touch Marouane Fellaini and David Moyes boots"

Stephen would like to thank FES for sponsoring the trip, Bay Travel, Jamie Fullarton at Bolton Wanderers and Alan Irvine at Everton for setting up the trips and of course the parents, players and coaches for the continued fundraising initiatives to make these trips happen.