Academy groups continue working hard at Victoria Park

All three GFA Academies — Aztech, Spirit and Mourant — have remained busy over recent months, training regularly at Victoria Park and taking part in a variety of matches.

With school and club football running alongside the Academy programme, it has been a particularly demanding period for the players. However, with an increasing number of fixtures postponed due to the weather, the all-weather surface at Victoria Park has proven invaluable, allowing training sessions to continue without disruption.

Each age group has been focusing on different themes within their sessions. In-possession work has included maintaining possession, playing out from defence and using wide areas effectively in the attacking third. Out-of-possession themes have ranged from staying compact as a unit and pressing high as a group, to developing effective tackling techniques without going to ground.

The GFA Aztech Academy groups have put this learning into practice through matches against club teams, schools and other Academy age groups, both older and younger. It has been encouraging to see the players challenged in different environments and continuing to develop their understanding of the game.