Vital Burnley's Alan Lee Helps Set Up Youth Tour

The Clarets youth team will be taking part in a tournament in Portugal before the season starts and this has been co-ordinated by Alan Lee who is part of the Vital Burnley admin team.

Alan if you are not aware posts as Vin Rogue on the site.

The Portugal tournament has come about due to Alan's involvement with Portuguese Prem Liga Youth Side (Academica). He has been linked with Academica since 2003 and you may remember an article we published in March this year which mentioned the fact that since last summer, Alan had been speaking with staff from Burnley about future youth team games involving the Clarets.

This culminated in Martin Dobson, Director of Youth Development at Turf Moor, visiting Academica in February this year and being hosted by the Portuguese Club and of course Vin was there albeit without his nurse! Regular readers of Vital will know all about Vin`s Nurse!

In the photograph below from left to right you can see Andre Vilas-Boas (Academica Coach, ex Inter Milan, Chelsea and Porto), Jose' Eduardo Simoes (President of Academica), Vin aka Al Lee Project Coordinator Academica/Myerscough College), Martin Dobson, Camilo Fernandes (Vice President Academica responsible for Youth Football).



Well that trip is now certainly bearing fruit. Terry Pashley (pictured at top of article) and Andy Farrell who will be in charge of the squad out in Portugal will be taking 22 youth team squad players to the tournament. The Clarets Youth Team will play in a two day tournament involving Portuguese clubs Sporting Lisbon and Academica as well as Celta Viga from Spain.

Dobbo had this to say about the initiative:

'We are greatly looking forward to the trip which will be a big test for the youth team.

'Sporting Lisbon's renowned Academy has produced many world class players, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani, and that gives some idea of the challenge facing the boys.

'But it is a fantastic opportunity and we must thank Academica and the city of Coimbra for the invitations as well as certain organisations who have helped fund the trip.'

So where is our Vin at the moment? Well he is still out in Portugal sorting out the fine detail and when he returns there will be a Vital Burnley Exclusive from him with some updates on venues and a few photographs to boot.

Well done Alan!! Great stuff

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