Pars in Manchester

Dunfermline Athletic U14 and U15 youth teams recently enjoyed a memorable trip to Manchester City FC to play games at their academy

Dunfermline Athletic U14 and U15 youth teams recently enjoyed a memorable trip to Manchester City FC to play games at their academy and afterwards a visit to the Etihad stadium to watch Manchester City v Fulham.

Both teams and parents travelled south by coach the day before the matches and had an overnight stay at a hotel near to the Academy at Platt Lane.

The players were accompanied on the trip by club coaches Grant Petrie, Chris Smith, David Donnelly-Kay, Harry McKinlay and Sports Scientist Robert Kielty. Head of Youth Stephen Wright co-ordinated the trip and was also in attendance, joined by DAFC club directors Steve Curtis and Christine Curtis, both of whom are sponsors of the youth teams.

All the players on the trip behaved impeccably and were a credit to the club conducting themselves professionally both on and off the park.

This trip was made possible by the hard work and fundraising by all youth development teams and their parents.DAFC Head of Youth Development, Stephen Wright, commented, "There are various on-going fundraising initiatives organised by the youth department to enable trips like these which provide the players with valuable experience playing against premiership opposition.Gareth Whalley, my ex-teammate at Bradford City now an Academy coach at Manchester City helped to co-ordinate the visit and the hospitality shown to us from Man City was first class".

After the games the players were treated to a tour of the Academy by Coach Nick Power, son of ex Man City legend Paul Power who was also in attendance watching the youth matches. Afterwards the Dunfermline Athletic party attended the first team match at the Etihad Stadium braving the Siberian snow to watch Man City ease past Fulham with a 3-0 victory.