Pre-season Netherlands trip for young Blues
Pompey Academy will be jetting off to the Netherlands for a pre-season tour this summer.
They are one of four teams chosen to take part in this year’s Leonardo Da Vinci Mobility Programme.
The Blues had to submit a proposal for the two-week all-expenses paid trip, detailing why they should be selected.
And their application proved a hit with the tour organisers, who also invited Birmingham, Bradford and Sheffield United to attend.
Pompey’s young players will be based at Vitesse Arnhem during their stay and get the chance to work with the Dutch top-flight outfit’s coaches.
They will also play matches against Twente, NEC Nijmegen and their hosts, take a tour of Amsterdam, watch an Ajax match and compete in a tournament with their fellow English clubs.
Academy manager Mark Kelly said: “This is a brilliant opportunity for our lads, as well as a chance for them to come together as a group.
“They’ll get the chance to learn how things are done elsewhere in Europe and experience a different culture.
“Some of our players might end up playing abroad later in their careers, so this can only aid their development.”
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