Maltese youngster joins Manchester City Football Club as an Academy Player

by di-ve.com

Friday, 8 June, 2007

Local youngster James Paris has joined Manchester City Football Club as an Academy player. Football Frenzy Soccer School has been monitoring James's progress for the past four years and recently recommended him to one of their contacts in England and the trial was arranged. The trial went very well as James impressed all the coaching team.

Manchester City were so amazed that a few days later James's family were invited to Manchester to view the facilities offered by this Premiership Club. During this trip James was offered the opportunity to join the club as an Academy Player. Following this, he was showcased at the Manchester City Stadium in front of the home supporters before their match versus Wigan Athletic and was announced over the loud speakers as an "exciting talent coming from Malta". He was also presented with a Manchester City T-Shirt bearing his name. Football Frenzy was represented by Wayne Peart who accompanied James and his family to Manchester.

James has worked hard for this opportunity. From the age of just 11 his abilities stood out. In 2004 during a Liverpool Training Camp that was organised in Malta, James was one of five boys who were selected from amongst 205 participants, who were later invited for a Training Camp to Liverpool Academy at Melwood.

The following year he was invited to Reading FC (arranged by Terry Wateridge and Jon Mottershead, Football Frenzy) on two occasions and last year he was invited by Malcolm Elias for a trial at Southampton FC.
He has also played abroad in tournaments with his club Pieta' and Football Frenzy in England which have all aided his development as a player and put him in good stead for the recent success. Most recently thanks to many contacts that Pieta' Hotspurs Football Club have with Italian Football Clubs, he was also invited to an Italian Serie A team Empoli Calcio where he also left a good impression.

James started out playing for Luxol St Andrews Youth Nursery and at the age of 13 he joined Pieta' Hotspurs Youth Nursery where after just one season he was given the Captain's armband of the Under 14's team. Only recently Pieta' Under 14's were also crowned the new Malta Champions after dominating the MFA Under 14's League. He has also been a member of the MFA Youth Training Scheme since the age of 11. He will be leaving for Manchester together with his family in July.

Jim Cassell Academy Director and Barry Poynton Head of Recruitment of Manchester City Football Club recently visited Malta to have a look at the Football Frenzy set up and to also have a look at the promising young talent on display here in Malta. They liked the island and the set up and look forward to working together with Football Frenzy in the future.

about the mcfc academy