FC Westchester '89s Have Successful Trip to England
The FC Westchester Under 17 ’89 Boys returned to the U.S. after spending the winter school break in England, where they had a successful tour, winning two of four games - including a thriller over Premiership youth side Portsmouth -- and leaving top English coaches very impressed.
The tour was set up as part of new working relationship between FC Westchester and Portsmouth, which will include the ability to have FC Westchester send teams and players over to Portsmouth for the Premiership side to take look at players. The relationship also provides for a visit to the United States during the summer by Portsmouth’s Director of Youth Coaching for him to work with the FC Westchester coaches and players.
“As a start to this relationship, this was terrific,” said FC Westchester Director of Coaching Sean Kenny, who also coaches the FC Westchester ‘89s. “During our trip, our FC Westchester coaches and players met with the renown Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp and his staff, we trained at the Portsmouth facility and got to play against their top youth squad.”
The FC Westchester squad wasn’t a good guest, however, as it topped Portsmouth on a late goal from striker Matt Poulton. That win came a day after the ‘89s lost a tough game to Bournemouth 2-0. A few days after that match, the 89s lost to an older Adershot Under 18 squad 1-0, and then closed the tour on a high with a 3-2 win over a U23 team from Hayling United behind two goals from Roberto Cabrera and one goal from Rich Martinez.
"We played four games in five days and came back ready to defend our State Cup title and attempt a double by also winning the Super Y League Mid-Atlantic Division," said Coach Kenny.
"While we would have liked to win all four games, we felt we did the club proud and won over a lot of friends here in England," Kenny said, pointing out proudly that all the English coaches who watched the FC Westchester squad “were left very impressed with our ability and style of play."
In fact, Kenny announced after the tour that he had heard from the Portsmouth coaching staff that two of the FCW ’89 players have been invited to attend the next preseason training with Portsmouth. This will take place this coming summer.
