- by Community Team
Doncaster Rovers Football Club & Sports Foundation are proud to announce a link that has been established with Ian Marshall Soccer Academy based out in Canada.
Ian who has made over 400 league appearances for a host of clubs including Oldham Athletic, Ipswich Town, Leicester City & Bolton Wanderers, moved out to live in Canada after retiring from the professional game in 2002. Since then he has established a highly successful soccer academy that works with both elite and grassroots players from all over Canada, focusing on teaching children all about the fastest growing sport that the country has to offer.
Last week Participation Manager Liam Scully visited the academy and has been working alongside Ian, Ian Marshall Soccer Academy coach Gary Drake and Balby Carr Sports Development Manager Ben Mawson around implementing new ideas from England, as well as being educated on the different methods Canadian based soccer coaches use.
Over the 10 day period Ian, Liam, Gary and Ben have worked with over 400 children at soccer camps, afterschool sessions and elite soccer academy's all over Canada including St John's, Marystown and Toronto.
Liam said:
"Over here football is growing at a phenomenal rate and children really enjoy playing their 'soccer'. However it is still relatively a new sport to Canada and with no professional or even semi professional league for them to advance into it is often seen as more of a hobby rather than a realistic career option. This is such a shame as there are many good young players out here. Since moving here Ian has been working tirelessly to improve their options and we at Doncaster Rovers are keen to support him in is goal to improve all aspects of football in Canada. Ian is currently raising sponsorship to enable him to open a purpose built facility for football. We will offer as much support to Ian as we can and I'm sure in return, gain a few more Rovers fans and maybe in the mid-term, even a player or two. We would like to thank Ben Mawson at Balby Carr Academy of Sport who organised link with Ian and his academy".
Ian Marshall Soccer Academy conducts tours for Canadian junior teams who visit England during the summer. Should your team be interested in playing a friendly game against a Canadian junior team please contact marshallsoccer@hotmail.com.
Tours can also be organised for English teams who wish to visit Canada, for more information visit www.ianmarshallsoccer.com.
