YOUNG soccer enthusiasts from Limerick are in for a treat later this summer when coaches from Celtic FC visit the city for a week-long summer camp.
Four coaches from the Celtic Soccer Academy will be at the camp at UL from August 4 to 8, with children aged between six and 16 invited to attend. Willie McNab, Celtic Soccer Academy manager, said that he was eager to organise summer camps which were not formally linked to any particular Irish club.
He told the Limerick Post: “The UL summer camp is an opportunity for our coaches to come to Limerick and work with the kids here. It’s an opportunity for us to get the Celtic brand out there and to get some activity into Limerick, where we don’t have a partner club.
“We have had camps with our partner clubs but we also wanted to set up camps that are just at a venue and not affiliated with any club. We want to give back to our Irish roots as there are roughly 4,000 supporters flying over from Ireland every week to cheer on Celtic.”
The camp will run from 10am to 3pm each day and costs €80 for the week. Each day will follow specific soccer-related themes designed by Celtic Soccer Academy coaches which will allow players to develop their technique through individual and group practices. There will be game-specific exercises and small-sides games, plus regular feedback and advice from coaches.
Mr McNab, who was in UL recently to view the facilities, added: “We want to connect with the local people and to keep kids active during the summer, and football is a good way to do that. The facility at UL is fantastic; I had to see it up close to really get an idea of how good it is.”
