Portugal trip was a great experience for Balloan youngsters
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Balloan Football Club say sending four teams out to Portugal to take part in a youth tournament was a fantastic experience for all involved.
Two teams were sent across to the Castelo De Vide, two at under-16 level and two at under-15 level.
Coping with temperatures around 40 degrees throughout, one under-16s side won the Silver Plate tournament while the other earned a placing.
Meanwhile the under-15 teams both got to the quarter finals of the Gold Cup.
With around 200 children involved at Balloan, the club are going strength to strength, and their latest exploits on the continent is further evidence of that.
“The whole two weeks was fantastic,” club chairman James Fraser enthused.
“It has been three years in the planning, we were supposed to have two teams in each of the last two years.
“Obviously that didn’t happen with Covid, but this was the first time we have taken four teams away to the tournament. That was challenging in the logistics of it, but it was fantastic.”
The players involved have grown in confidence since heading abroad, according to Fraser, with various life skills being developed by the experience just as they become young adults.
That reinforces Balloan’s belief that these competitions are important to travel to, despite the cost involved.
“It was just by chance I found this tournament in Portugal, and as someone who has been to at least 20 tournaments it’s the best one I’ve ever been to,” Fraser explained.
“The experience of playing against Benfica and those clubs is just phenomenal.
“It’s a friendly atmosphere over there as well, kids were encouraged to mingle with the other teams and swap shirts, swap social media stuff, so it’s just fantastic to see.
“The kids certainly do get a lot from the tournament, probably more than we actually realised.
“It will live with them for the rest of their lives after the memories they’ve made.”
