Roy Keane and Daniel Crisante at Ipswich UK
The first Sharks Scholarship trip to the Ipswich Town Academy with General Manager George Hurley taking Daniel Crisante and Patrick Savor to Ipswich Town was a very successful venture with the two boys fitting into the routine of professional football very well a quickly making an impression on Academy staff. The boys put in over 120 hours of training playing and education while also rooming with other aspiring footballers living and breathing football for the month they were away plus meeting with new Manager former Manchester Utd. and Ireland Captain Roy Keane. The reports I personally received from their coach and former Arsenal player Chris Kiyombia and Academy Manager Sammy Morgan were very positive and the boys progress will be followed closely over the next couple of years. Due to changes in senior staff since my last visit in 2008 with Simon Clegg CEO , Roy Keane Manager , and Sammy Morgan Academy Manager all coming into the club, it was important to confirm our ongoing relationship with Ipswich town and this was made easier by the performance of our two boys at the academy. I met with CEO Simon Clegg at Portland Road to discuss the future relationship between our two clubs and after looking at our clubs achievements, growth over the past few years and plans for the future, he was more than happy to personally put in place a formal agreement that will see two boys attending the Academy through the Scholarship Foundation each year.
Simon Clegg was impressed with the Shires potential with such a large junior nursery and very pleased to see a copy of the Development and Identification Structure that has been drafted to allow a pathway to the Sharks Academy then into the senior squad and beyond for all junior players throughout the Shire. The Draft Development and Identification Structure has been presented to the Junior association and Sutherland Shire Coaches association for review and discussion, and after the positive input at a recent meeting I am sure we can work around minor issues, establish a structure to suit the Shire and build on the good work the Coaches Association have established over the past few years. It is just a question of how many players can we produce from the Shire that eventually play for the Sharks or at a higher level.
George Hurley also met with Norwich FC through CEO David McNally and an arrangement has been made for a 15 year old Youth player to attend Norwich FC on a two week trial in late July 2010. This is yet another acknowledgement of the Sharks success as a club and the high regard in which they are held o`seas.
