One of the highlights of 10-year-old Archie Thomas’ trip to the United Kingdom, apart from trialling in front of soccer scouts, was watching Manchester United take to the pitch on their home turf at Old Trafford. Photo: Supplied.
Weipa’s Archie Thomas has returned from a soccer lover’s dream trip to the United Kingdom with a boosted passion for the game and a greater understanding of what it will take to run onto the pitch at the sport’s highest level.
The 10-year-old rising football star travelled more than 14,500 kilometres for the experience of trialling in front of 30 scouts from professional leagues in the UK, as well as witnessing Manchester United play on their home turf at Old Trafford.
While the trial did not quite go to plan, he described the experience as “awesome” and said he was now setting his sights on Peninsula trials early next month.
“The trials were awesome and it was a great experience for me,” he said.
“I enjoyed the 1-on-1 battles against the England lads, and working at higher intensity.
“I also had a report card that told me my strengths and weaknesses to work on, which was written by a UEFA A-licence coach.”
With the Peninsula trials scheduled for 5 June, Archie’s father, Jamie Thomas, said he believed there needed to be more football development opportunities and qualified coaches across Cape York.
“For the Cape, there needs to be more development, qualified coaches and opportunities for kids to compete with the clubs across Queensland,” he said.
“The organisers were very impressed we had made the journey from Weipa, and loved us being there.”
With the sport experiencing a resurgence in Weipa and Cooktown, Mr Thomas said he would love to see a showdown between the two clubs to further advance soccer’s standing on the Cape.
“That would be a great get together of two remote clubs,” he said.
