Radnor House's School Football Tour to St. George's Park
Radnor House’s footballers have just returned from their school football tour to St. George’s Park, the training facility used by England’s national football teams to prepare for internationals.
Here, Adam Jones, Radnor House’s Director of Sport, explains why they chose this tour and what the impact was on the students.
Why did you choose to arrange a school sports tour to St. George’s Park?
We wanted a short tour for our senior footballers. Access to the facilities and coaching at the site was really important.
Did Halsbury’s Covid Guarantee help you to arrange your tour post-Covid?
It was one less thing to worry about at such a busy time of year for schools.
What were you most looking forward to?
I was most looking forward to seeing the facilities and having our players train like the England squad. The recovery centre, with its indoor pool and underwater treadmill, was great fun!
What do you think your students were most looking forward to?
After the past few years, I’m sure the chance for a residential trip was hugely important to them. To train at St. George’s was very important.
What were your first impressions of St. George’s Park?
I thought it was very clean, professional and inspiring, as both a player and a coach.
What did you think about the facilities at St. George’s Park?
I thought the facilities were outstanding and world-class. It was lovely to access and use the same facilities as our players’ footballing role models.
How did you use these facilities to enhance your tour?
We held training sessions on the 4G pitch with bespoke coaching sessions.
The coaches were excellent.
The recovery pool and underwater treadmill was also a highlight.
And the pupils really enjoyed the sports nutritional workshop on the first day and continued to discuss the main points raised throughout the stay.
Did your students enjoy the opportunity to take on local opposition?
Yes, as a small school we were a little worried that the standard wouldn’t be right. However, it was perfect. We were made to feel really welcome and would want to play the same opposition again.
What do you think they learned from their friendly fixtures?
It’s nice to play different opposition and to discuss the main coaching points that we’d worked on at St. George’s Park. We’re also looking forward to receiving the match video from the opposition, who filmed both games so that we can continue to learn from this experience.
What did your students learn on your school sports tour and how did the tour benefit them in the end?
After Covid, the social impact of a residential trip cannot be overstated.
The students learnt about the demands of working and training like an elite athlete and have a better understanding of the fact that what you do off the pitch is as important as what you do on the pitch.
Pupils have already started talking about returning next year. And, of course, the tour was a great springboard for the rest of the football season.
Ready to start planning your school football tour to St. George’s Park?
Please don’t hesitate to contact us for further information or to request a tailor-made quote .