My Train Like A Pro Experience by Ethan Bleakley, Aged 7

This week my entire team from Wyre Villa FC have been lucky enough to visit AFC Fylde to take part in the Train Like A Pro programme every day.

Throughout the week we were training on the 3G pitches, where we saw the academy and first team train right next to us which was great.

Our Train Like A Pro experience was really memorable. As well as playing football every day we got to do a number of things which were really interested and great experiences including a physio workshop, health and wellbeing workshop we even got to go on a tour of the AFC Fylde stadium and sit in our favourite players’ seats in the dressing room.  This was something me and my teammates really enjoyed.

As a Manchester United fan, my idol is Paul Pogba. I love the way he plays the game and that is how I want to be when I’m older. Throughout the week I have been playing in midfield and I have been learning the importance of when to pass the ball and when to hold on to it. It’s been really helpful in improving me as a player and replicating Pogba!

Although during our experience we learnt lots of new skills, took part in different sessions and played lots of games, I think the most memorable part for myself was the physio workshop.

I didn’t know why it was so important to do stretches before playing and I even learnt lots of new ways to stretch and warm up before playing my matches so I do not get injured.

I have always dreamt of being a professional footballer.

Now after Train Like A Pro I want to become professional even more and continue to train every day and live my dream!

AFC Fylde Community Foundation Train Like A Pro programme made possible through support of Cuadrilla Resources.