The junior team is fundraising for their first overseas trip
Hessle Sporting Wizards are fundraising for their big trip to Paris.(Image: Hessle Sporting Wizards)
A team of promising young footballers from Hessle are fundraising for a once in a lifetime trip to compete in a tournament hosted by one of Europe’s top clubs. Hessle Sporting Wizards under nines team is preparing to take on the Paris International Cup.
The nine boys will travel to the French capital in July for the two-day event which is the first ever junior tournament to be staged at Paris Saint-Germain’s multimillion-euro training ground on the outskirts of the city. They will battle across the Saturday and Sunday against international teams, including some rival UK sides.
With plenty of end of league training now on the cards in the run up to their overseas debut, the Wizards are also busy fundraising to support the trip. A Gofundme page has already raised more than £1,100 of a £1,300 target – with the boys also set to take on a sponsored walk across the Humber Bridge in coming days.
Sophie Thompson is a parent volunteer behind the team who helps with much of its admin and booking tournaments, and has played key role in securing the Wizards’ trip to Paris.
She explained: “We were looking this year at doing something a bit different because they enjoyed doing the tournaments – but it’s usually just local competitions that we do. We found out about overseas tournaments – and with this Paris Saint-Germain one, it’s the first time they’re doing it at the brand new training ground which has just been opened.
“We thought that would be a really interesting one to do. Everyone was up for it so we went ahead and booked it, which is a big thing.”
For some of the boys, the trip will be their first abroad. And with the competition open to boys under eight to under 14 and to girls teams from under 11 to under 15, the opportunity will be one to remember with the World Cup on the horizon.
Sophie added: “It’s going to be a really great experience for them to meet and play against teams from other countries.”
The Wizards have secured the support of Hull taxi firm Wer2 who are sponsors of the side. And in addition to the team efforts, the boys are all thinking of individual activities they can do to raise vital pounds and pence towards the cost of the £600 entry fee, along with flights and hotels.
The Wizards are managed by Jonny Shirley and coached by Anthony Bowsley – the manager of Barton Town men’s team. They compete in the Hull and East Riding League with fixtures taking place on Sunday mornings. With a couple of tournament wins last year, and one already under their belt this season, the boys now hope to come home from Paris with another win.
Sophie added: “They’re a group 1 one team so they’re quite high level in their age group, and they’ve been quite successful this season. Their passion is football.
“It would be a bonus if they won but it’s the experience they’re after.”
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