Premier
Soccer Academy
UK Based players
Report 20/02/05
The following players have toured with the Premier Soccer Academy over the past 5 years and have impressed enough to be offered ether an academy scholarship or professional contract. All the players who tour with the PSA are reminded that the annual tours are designed specifically to give them a taste of what it is like to be involved at a professional level in the UK, however some
have progressed further.
Here is a short summery of six players who managed to take it to the next stage and one player who unfortunately due to a new FIFA ruling in 2002 suffered the heartache of getting offered a scholarship with one of the best youth academies in England only to find out that the new rule made it impossible for him to accept.
GARETH MUSSON.
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
SHANE HUKE. Dagenham and Redbridge
SON JAE. Northampton Town FC
CRAIG THOMPSON. Peterborough United FC
TERRY HUGHES. Ipswich Town FC
ANTHONY LIMRICK. Billericay FC
ZAC TUNG. Injured
Gareth Musson
was originally signed at Ipswich Town but has since moved and on and is currently in his second year as an academy scholar at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Gareth is now 17 and has already played for Wolves reserves and stands a very good chance of getting offered a professional contract with the club whom are now managed by Glen Hoddle.
Touring with the PSA in September 2000 Gareth was first spotted by Peterbourough United who invited him to play in a tournement for “ the Posh” in France. Ipswich Town then took Gareth on trial and he spent his first year in the UK with the blues before moving onto Wanderers.
Shane Huke
toured with the PSA in 2002 and made an instant impression on John ‘Gaffa’ Morling (Peterborough United Reserve coach) Shane is now a firm part of the reserve team squad at Peterborough United where it is only a matter of time before he makes his first team debut. Barry Fry (PUFC manager) who is one of the most famous and infamous managers in English football holds Shane in very high regard, so much
so that Barry has just ripped up the 3 year contract Shane signed one year ago and given him a new improved 3 year deal.
Son Jae
toured in 2002. After a short time with ‘The Posh’ (PUFC) who where in the process of dismantling their youth academy due to financial reasons, Son Jea from South Korea moved onto Northampton Town FC on the recommendation of Peterboroughs Gaffa Morling. Son Jae is a very technically gifted midfielder who has impressed at Northanpton.
Craig Thompson
Signed with Peterbourough United after a very successful 2001 PSA tour which also saw Walsall FC take a keen interest in him during the PSA’s narrow 3-2 defeat at Walsall. Craig signed as a scholar with the ‘Posh’ however he was released when the posh academy was dismantled.
Terry Hughes Toured with the PSA in 2002 was an instant stand out with Ipswich Town. Terry was invited back in January 2003 and stayed for 3 months. During his time at Ipswich Town Academy director Malcolm Moore did all he could to find a way to gain clearance for Terry to sign with the then English Prmiership outfit however when all avenues where exhausted Terry returned to Brisbane and joined Lions.
Zac Tung Toured with the Psa in 2004 however Zac had sustained a broken leg 3 month before the tour and although fit enough to train with the squad Ipswich Towns physio advised Zac to strengthen the leg before playing competitive matches.
Anthony Limerick is the only player that the PSA have organised trails for who has not toured with the Academy and at 20 also the oldest. Anthony has been trailing at several clubs, which has included Cambridge City and Billiricky Town. Limo is currently still seeking a permanent contract with a top amateur outfit in the UK.
Malcolm Moore Recruitment officer
Ipswich Town
Many players have stayed on to trail at professional clubs as a direct result of their participation in Premier Soccer Academy Youth Development Tours. Over the past 5 years the PSA have enjoyed considerable success.
Our 2-1 victory over Norwich City in 2004 was the first time the PSA had beaten a Premier League Academy. The 2-2 Draw against Chelsea under 17s in 2003 who fielded 3 under 17 International players. Shane Huke signing a 3 year professional contract in 2002. Also in 2002 an extremely credible 2-2 draw with Peterborough United under 18 Academy who went onto reach the quarter finals of
the F.A Youth cup the same season, only to lose 1-0 against Manchester City. Gareth Musson the first PSA player to sign for a Premier League Academy at the age of 14.
PSA V Chelsea FC
The Premier Soccer Academy is naturally proud of the success the touring squads have enjoyed and of the players who have seceded in the UK, however as of September 2004, 75 players have now toured with the Academy. The real buzz for everyone involved with the PSA is to see players return from a tour having had an insight into the world of top professional Football from top amateur clubs like Cambridge City to top Professional clubs and Academies such as Ipswich Town and Chelsea. It cannot be stressed enough, that the tours are designed to give players a better understanding of their chosen sport, nobody is promised a trail with any of the clubs associated with the PSA, however if one of the clubs show interest then in a player that is a bonus for that lucky player and arrangements will be made for trails after consulting the players parents.
The Premier Soccer Academy would like to thank all the players who have toured with the Academy over the past 5 years The PSA are proud to say that the behavior, discipline and quality of the players who have toured has been excellent. It has been very encouraging to have received letters and comments from the Professional Academies congratulating us on our professional attitude and the quality of the players, which we have taken over to the UK.
SM