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Redbridge College Footballers follow in Becks’ footsteps

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Redbridge College students Sanchez and Nicky prepare to jet off to America to play in the President’s Day tournament.Two talented players from Redbridge College’s football squad are looking to follow in David Beckham’s footsteps and crack America at a festival of international football in Phoenix next month.

Sanchez Hardy and Nicky Hornsby, both aged 18, have been hand-picked to join a squad playing in Phoenix, Arizona, at the 31st Annual President’s Day Invitational Tournament, starting on 12 February 2010.

They will be playing against colleges from across the USA and Canada alongside 16 football students from Preston College. All of the students will be staying with local families for the duration of the tournament.

Preston College has been competing in the tournament for the last 16 years, and 20 of their former students have been successful in securing ‘soccer scholarships’ with US Universities as a result.

Preston College invited students from Redbridge College to make up their team because of the college’s reputation for offering a second-to-none football programme.

Nicky, who is on the NOCN Diploma in Progression Football course, said, “My parents are really pleased for me, because I’ve been given this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I have been playing in football teams since I was in primary school, and this is my chance to start a career as a footballer.”

Sanchez is currently studying on Redbridge College’s BTEC National Diploma in Sport Studies. He said, “I’m so excited, I can’t stop talking about it! I’ve been playing football since I was eight years old, and this is my chance to get spotted by a scout and hopefully get offered a scholarship. Then I’d be able to continue my education while still playing lots of competitive football.”

Martin Mainey, Assistant Principal for Quality Improvement at Redbridge College, added, “The students have worked very hard to reach this level and this tournament will be a valuable experience for them. There is the potential for Sanchez and Nicky to be awarded a sports scholarship to study at an American university, which would be life-changing.”

For more information about Sports Studies courses at Redbridge College, call us on 020 8548 7431 today. Our FA accredited courses include Sports Coaching and Leadership as well as BTECs, Diplomas and NVQs in Football.