Spotted at EPL Camp - FC Blades player goes to England for trials with Manchester United!
Irvine, California – Friday, June 01, 2012
Matt Wiher is a very talented goalkeeper who plays for FC Blades BU14 Gold team. Last week he received the opportunity of a life time – A chance to tryout for Manchester United in England.
Manchester United is the biggest Football Club in the world, they have won the English Premier League a record 20 times and the European Champions League 3 times. Man Utd boasts a roster packed full of famous players such as Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes, Chicharito Hernandez and many, many more.
(Matt Wiher and family visit Old Trafford – The Theatre of Dreams)
Only a few American players have previously played for Manchester United and Matt Wiher hopes to follow in the footsteps of fellow Americans Tim Howard, Guiseppe Rossi and Jonathan Spector and one day pull on the famous Red Jersey for the Manchester United first team. If he achieves his dream, he will get to play at Old Trafford Stadium where 75,811 screaming fans regularly cheer on the Red Devils!
How did this 13 year old get this amazing opportunity? For the last 10 years, FC Blades have been bringing over Top Quality, professional coaches from the English Premier League (EPL) for 3-4 weeks, to help with the training of FC Blades club teams and other local soccer players at the FC Blades EPL camp which is held each year in July.
The EPL camp regularly attracts over 600 local players who wish to meet, and learn from some of the BEST COACHES IN THE WORLD!
(Matt Wiher with Jack Robinson – Man Utd Academy Goal Keeper Coach)
While working with FC Blades BU13 team at the 2011 camp, former professional player and Manchester United Academy Coach Lee Unsworth immediately recognized Matt’s outstanding ability and incredible potential. He sent a scouting report back to Manchester United in England and they invited Matt to attend their Academy tryouts at the Carrington Training Center on May 22/24.
“I always say ‘ goal keepers are born, not made’ and that was my thought when I first met Matt on my first session a year and half ago when we start training together. Even if Matt is still a young goalkeeper he already has this DNA goalkeeper in his blood! With his amazing Physical attributes ( bravery-natural fitness-reflexes-speed off the line) , intelligence in reading the game, dealing with crosses and ones on ones and most important his consistency at every game or training Matt has everything to soon be one of the best keepers of his age group. To emphasize on who Matt is, he is someone who is still willing to work, learn or improve” Jerome Millet – FC Blades GK Coach
Accompanied by his family and FC Blades Technical Director – Tim Woodcock, Matt Wiher traveled to England on May 20th. Matt played in 3 trial games at both tryouts and received amazing feedback from the Manchester United Academy Coaches and Goal Keeper coaches. Over the next 12 months, Matt will be monitored by Manchester United at the upcoming EPL camp in July and then again in the spring of 2013.
“Matt’s talent and potential was obvious to me during my first FC Blades EPL camp in July 2009” Lee Unsworth – Manchester United Academy Coach and 4 year EPL camp coach
Matt Wiher Has been a part of FC Blades since he was 8 years old and he currently coached by John Roland and FC Blades GK Coach – Jerome Millet.
“He is the heart of our team and truly a special player” John Roland – FC Blades BU14 Head Coach
“Matt Wiher is Inspirational and a pleasure to coach. He is an outstanding athlete who combines talent with a focused dedication to improve. Matt was the catalyst for the success of the team, a remarkable Goalkeeper and person. Without doubt, he is one of the best players I have ever had the fortune to work with” Glen Gamble - FC Blades coached who worked with Matt at U12/U13
Could your son/daughter be the next player to be scouted by Man U? The FC Blades EPL summer camp is open to ALL PLAYERS ages 6-14 years old. Club players, AYSO and others are welcome to attend the camp which will be held for 4 weeks in July/August in Irvine. The registration deadline is Friday, June 15th. Please visit our website www.fcblades.com or email [email protected] for more information
FC Blades Technical Director, Tim Woodcock (pictured above with Matt Wiher) spoke about the success of the trip to England.
“The whole experience was a fantastic opportunity for Matt Wiher and he perfomed amazingly well in the 6 games that he played. These trials took a lot of work and time to set up, but it was really worthwhile for both Matt, his family and for FC Blades. I was able to connect with all of the Man Utd coaches who will be coming to Irvine this summer and it also enabled me to create a clear pathway for our talented young players to achieve their goals of playing at the biggest clubs in the world! I sincerely believe that Matt has the potential to go ‘all the way to the top’ and now the foundation has been laid for others to follow in his footsteps”