The summer is always a busy period for Southend United's Youth Development Policy and whilst this year's close season has been filled with a number of exciting experiences, I would like to give you an insight in to one of many of our on going activities.

Back in May, as posted on the official club website, we created a link with a Football Club in Brazil. The link has enabled us to spend time with some exciting young players and offer them opportunities to travel to England. Through our European Tour Agent, Henrik Niss, we have been introduced to a fantastic man named Riccardo Andrade. Riccardo is a Brazilian born soccer coach who operates within a club in Ferravario. Riccardo has spent the past few years travelling Europe with Soccer teams from Brazil, offering them opportunities in Denmark, Sweden, Italy, France and the Netherlands. Introduced to Riccardo via Henrik at the Norhalne Cup in Denmark, we were able to offer Riccardo and Marcus Fabio (an Under 14) the opportunity to spend 2 weeks with us. As previously reported, they did so for 1 week here in Southend and for the 2^nd week in France, playing for us in a top French tournament for boys born 1994.

Having returned home for 2 months, Marcus Fabio then returned alone on July 6^th to begin a 5 week adventure with us. Marcus has had a variety of experiences since he has been with us, including living with the Youth Team, training with a variety of age groups from his own to the Under 18's, staying with various Centre of Excellence players families and visiting the Capital city. He has also played in a number of matches whilst he has been with us, including games against Ipswich Town Under 14's in which he scored and Arsenal Under 15's.

These opportunities give him a great experience and an opportunity to expand on his English Language. Back home in Brazil, he has a tutor to teach him English and throughout his stay his understanding of the language and ability to converse with us has improved greatly.

Marcus is a fast, skilfull wide player and is this weekend returning home to Brazil from Denmark where he has been playing in the Brondby Cup with our 1994 born players.

Riccardo meanwhile has been travelling Europe with other teams during this time, and on the 15^th July, arrived himself in England to spend a week with Marcus, bringing a boy named Arthur Andrade. Arthur is one year older than Marcus, and plays as a holding midfield player. During his stay Arthur trained with the Under 18's before travelling to a tournament in Holland with Riccardo.

As I write this, the 1994 team in the Brondby Cup have just completed their first match. Arthur played a whole game just in front of the back 4, and Marcus, who entered the game wide on the left at half time, scored 2 spectacular goals to earn a 2-2 draw. The tournament which takes place at Brondby's amazing training complex includes teams such as Brondy, Malmo and FC Copenhagen.

Over the past month I have spent a lot of time with Marcus Fabio and have huge respect for him as a person. At 13 years of age, he travelled across the world and lived in a foreign land for 5 weeks. During this time he has become extremely popular with our players, who are all looking forward to his return. His football standards have been very good and the experiences he and our players have gained have been brilliant.

When I spoke to Marcus before he departed with Luke Hobbs and the 1994 team to Denmark, he told how he was scared before he arrived and very nervous of the whole adventure. Having faced his fears he then explained how much he has enjoyed England, enjoyed Southend and how much he is looking forward to returning. I guess it shows that to achieve good things, you have to take that jump and face those fears. A great coach I once worked with said, "face your fears - live your dreams" - spot on!

This link we have begun to establish will expand in a number of ways that could be of benefit to our players and Ferravirio players, we have to thank Henrik Niss for his introduction and for his continued support and also Riccardo, Marcus and Arthur, for helping create what we hope will become and exciting and long lasting friendship.

Mark Bonner
Recruitment Officer