Pre-Academy squad participate in First-team Experience Day

Yahoo

19-05-2025

Twelve Pre-Academy squad members were invited to the club's Training Centre in Benton ahead of joining the club's Under-9s Foundation Phase group next season and were warmly greeted by Bruno Guimarães and Sandro Tonali upon arrival at the main reception.
The Magpies youngsters then participated in a number of footballing activities with Guimarães and Tonali, including an entertaining game of Teqball against the midfield duo, before meeting the remainder of the first-team squad and head coach Eddie Howe.
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Jamie Williams, Newcastle United's Head of Pre-Academy, told newcastleunited.com: "It's always great to bring the pre-academy boys up to the first-team. It's a nice celebration for all of the hard work for the year they've had.
"The way the manager, staff and players have welcomed us has been absolutely incredible. From Bruno and Sandro greeting the boys at the front door all the way through to getting the chance to get to play against them and all of the players in the indoor area was a real joy.
"To see, first-hand, the training and being able to watch on was great along with the added surprise of Sky Sports. I don't think myself or the kids expected to be invited to do a live broadcast but it was nice for the players to have that experience of talking in front of the camera.
"The gaffer is really invested and supportive of what we do, showing a key interest in all aspects of today and does throughout the season, always checking in and asking how they're doing. He's really keen to play a pivotal role in days like today because it's his environment and squad.
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"I think his leadership is second and none and it shows in how involved he got, joining in with all of the games which was excellent to see."
In awe of the likes of Dan Burn, Lewis Miley and Sean Longstaff, who also spent their early days at Newcastle United's Academy, the youngsters also sat down for dinner with their following the conclusion of training and will be aiming to follow in the illustrious footsteps of their hometown heroes.
"It's an opportunity to keep the dream alive," Williams said. "Of course, it's only at the start of their journey because they are so young but these kids dream about being footballers. They want to play the game they love so to see people who are making that a reality doing it day in, day-out is brilliant.
"When they are local lads who've come through the Academy pathway, it's even stronger and to see the likes of Lewis (Miley) and Sean (Longstaff) as examples and to play for or against them today keeps that dream a little more achievable.
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"We all know it is incredibly hard and it's not something we should focus on at this age but to dip their toe and have a feel of what it'll feel like will live with them forever."
The young group are also set to be introduced on the pitch at half-time during United's final Premier League fixture of the 2024/25 season at home to Everton on Sunday, 25th May.
Williams added: "It's an annual event to be presented in front of the crowd at half-time. Historically, we do it on the last game of the season so that brings an extra special feeling to it. For them to have the chance to walk out in front of 52,000 is a once in a lifetime opportunity and, hopefully for some, it'll be a regular one as they get older.
"It's a chance to be really proud of their hard work and everything they've achieved up until now as they step into full academy contracts and being academy players.
"They get their faces on the screen and get a big cheer with their names read out and is probably over in one minute but that one minute will be remembered for a lifetime."