The U15 Sounders FC Academy squad is in Sheffield, England, this week challenging for the Youdan Trophy. Taking place in the birthplace of modern-day soccer, the young Sounders join a field of elite European youth teams such as Celtic and Stoke City. The tournament is a celebration of the first-ever soccer tournament, the Football Challenge Cup, which occurred in Sheffield in 1867.
The tournament is billed as a showcase for the ‘stars of the future’, and entry to the competition is by invitation only. With the event comprised of clubs such as Everton FC, who have produced world-class youth players like Ross Barkley and John Stones, Sounders Academy players can use the tournament as a litmus test for their own progress in the world of development.
The young Sounders have been drawn into a competitive group alongside storied soccer institutions Newcastle FC and Charlton Athletic. In addition to top-notch competition, the tournament includes world-class programming including coaching education clinics and visits to the National Football Museum located in Sheffield. Between the professional grade facilities and elite competition, the Sounders Academy players and staff are eager to test themselves by vying for the Youdan Trophy.
“We saw Newcastle play in France,” said midfielder JoeJoe Richardson of his experience playing in the Neuville Sur Saone Tournoi in 2015. “They won the tournament, so it’s going to be good to play against them.”
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In his third year with Sounders Academy, Richardson will be competing in his third international tournament with the group after a strong showing in the Cayman Airways International Youth Football Cup.
As young soccer players with aspirations of one day playing for the Sounders first team, the experience of playing against the best youth teams in the world in a professional setting is absolutely vital.
“I think [playing international youth tournaments] is critical,” said Academy coach Wade Webber. “This is literally global, we’re dealing with three continents in our group alone.”
With many players in the Sounders youth system hoping to carve out careers in the professional game, world-class tournaments such as this are crucial for development. It’s one thing to play well against local clubs on the weekend, but the Youdan Trophy offers up a host of variables that mimic some of the difficulties associated with professional soccer. From hostile supporters to massive variation in styles of play, the opportunity for the young Sounders to test themselves in this sort of environment prepares them for some of the adversity they will face later in their careers.
“We have time to prepare and we know what we’re going up against, so we have a little bit of an advantage going in there,” said center back Khai Brisco. “It will be very good exposure for us as young players.”
The Sounders organization continues to devote time and resources to the development of promising local players. With unique opportunities such as this, the young Sounders are exposed at an early age to the type of environment they may one day face on the road in MLS or CONCACAF Champions League.
Supporters can follow the competition on the tournament’s Twitter page here.
