Swindon Town FC Under 14s return to Cayman

(WBSF): For the second year running, the West Bay Sports Foundation (WBSF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Environment, Youth, Sports and Culture, the Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA), Pepsi, Aquafina and a number of local companies, will once again be hosting Swindon Town Football Club’s talented Under 14 squad from the United Kingdom. The team will visit the Island for five days this month and play two exhibition games against local select teams comprised of the best Under 14 players currently playing in CIFA’s Under 13 and Under 15 leagues.

The team will arrive on Sunday, February 10 and will play Academy SC at the T.E. McField Sports Complex (Annex Field) in George Town on Tuesday, February 12 and a West Bay/Bodden Town Select at the Ed Bush Field in West Bay on Thursday, February 14. Both games are at 6:30 p.m. and the cost per game is $8.00.

Prior to the featured games, there will be a number of Under 13, Under 11 and Under 9 exhibition games beginning at 5:30 p.m.
This second visit by Swindon Town’s Under 14s and its coaching staff is the result of a flourishing relationship formulated between the WBSF and Swindon Town’s prestigious Youth Academy. In February 2012, this same team visited the Cayman Islands to play three exhibition games.

Visiting with Swindon Town, was13-year old local starlet Sebastian Martinez, who has been with Swindon Town’s Youth Academy since October 2011. Young Martinez’s contract was made possible by Swindon Town FC’s talent scout and former Swindon Town player and Reggae Boy Fitzroy Simpson. Mr Simpson’s recommendation to take Sebastian to Swindon Town FC was supported by the government and through a collaborative effort between the Ministries of Youth and Sports, Education and Development, and Sebastian’s parents, Martinez’s contract, which includes his continued education, was made possible.

This visit will also feature a second young Caymanian, Kray Foster, who joined Swindon Town’s Youth Academy in August 2012 after impressing the Swindon coaching staff and Mr Simpson on their initial visit. Following successful trials with the Youth Academy in March 2012, young Mr Foster signed a one-year rolling development contract in August 2012.

According to the Minister of Sports, the Hon. Mark Scotland, “The Ministry shares the vision of developing our youth through sports and so we are more than happy to play a significant role in making Swindon Town’s second visit possible. I also thank the private sector entities that have assisted thus far in making this trip possible especially the West Bay Sports Foundation. We are especially thrilled to welcome back our local boys – Sebastian and Kray – who serve as great ambassadors on the field and in the classroom.”

And according to Arden Rivers of the WBSF, they view Swindon Town’s two visits as very important and positive steps for youth football in the Cayman Islands. “Swindon’s first visit in February 2012 was very well received by the Cayman public so it was an easy decision for us to bring the team back.

Through the concerted efforts of several individuals and the favourable responses from our great sponsors, we are very excited in welcoming back Swindon Town’s Youth Academy to our Islands.”

Known as “The Robins”, “The Reds” or “The Town”, Swindon Town FC play in England’s League One and are based in Swindon, Wiltshire.

Technical Director of Swindon Town’s Youth Academy Jeremy Newton added, “Swindon Town is extremely excited about returning to the Cayman Islands. Last year, we were so well received by the Cayman public. Our aim this year is to continue to build working relationships with the local clubs, and the government in creating a platform to give the players on the Island an opportunity to play in England, and to be part of our club, much like Sebastian, and more recently Kray. We say special thanks to the government and all the sponsors for making this trip possible.”

Football fans are encouraged to come out and support the games.