Ex Manchester United super star Dwight Yorke with IH Manchester football academy players!Here at the football Academy we are always trying to teach our players that you just never know who is watching, whatever the session or game.

This week the boys have a great opportunity to train at one of Manchester United’s famous training grounds, the Cliff. The cliff training ground used to be home to the Manchester United first team players and has seen some massive superstars through those doors over the years. Today the facility is used by the United foundation and the Manchester united academy as a training venue.

The PFA also use the facility for their coach education programme and this week invited the Academy players along for the whole week to take part in the sessions with some up and coming coaches from the northwest. Once again this is a great opportunity for the players to showcase their ability in front of some influential people in the game from a variety of professional clubs across the northwest. Not only can they do that, but they can also taste a sample of coaching from different coaches and clubs.

Over the past few weeks head coach Nigel has been talking to the players about taking all their opportunities and always being aware that anyone could be watching, and true to form that happened this week on the first day of training at the Cliff. Not only were the boys on show to all the coaches on the programme, but Ex Manchester United Striker, Dwight Yorke came along to see the sessions and met the players.
Dwight Yorke made 147 appearances for Manchester united and was a treble winner in his first season with the club developing a famous partnership up front with fellow Manchester United striker Andy Cole. Dwight went on that season to win the premier league’s player of the year and two further premier league titles with Manchester united before his move to Blackburn rovers where he was back with his old strike partner Andy Cole once more. Dwight also represented his country, Trinidad & Tabago and in the 2009/2010 had a spell as assistant manager with the international side.

The players were delighted to meet such a superstar and Dwight was a true gentleman posing for pictures with the players.
Dwight is currently working with the PFA towards gaining his UEFA A coaching licence to pursue a further career in coaching and managing in the professional game.
Another great experience for the players. It’s not every day you get to meet a true superstar from one of the world’s top football clubs.
The players will be at the Cliff training ground all week with the PFA, so who know who they will meet next.