Corporate News

Jockey Club partners Manchester United to nurture more young football elite

07/22/2013

From today (22 July), 66 of Hong Kong’s best young footballers are being given the football chance of a lifetime.  They have been selected to join the Jockey Club Elite Youth Football Camp for a two-week training programme under four expert coaches from the Manchester United Soccer School (MUSS).  Training takes place on the Happy Valley Artificial Pitch.

Jockey Club Corporate Business Planning and Programme Management Director Scarlette Leung officiated at today’s opening ceremony with Manchester United legend Denis Irwin and Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) Technical Director Steve O’Connor.

Ms Leung said the partnership between the Club and Manchester United went hand in hand with the Club’s strategy for ongoing support to the development of football at the grass roots level through its district training scheme.  “The youth football camp gives the best players from the districts a unique opportunity to receive world-class training, and reflects the Club’s commitment to the Hong Kong community to raise the international profile of local sports with world class partners.”

Denis Irwin was equally excited about the project. “The project that has been devised by The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a great opportunity for any budding footballer. They will get to learn some of the skills, advice and insider knowledge that I was taught when playing for United. I am looking forward to seeing some of them play and maybe even having a bit of a kick-about myself today.” 

The Jockey Club Elite Youth Football Camp was launched last year as a three-year project funded by an HK$11 million donation from the Club’s Charities Trust.  Each year, the two most outstanding young players attending the two-week training camp are chosen by the coaches from the MUSS to join Manchester United’s academy training camp for a week in the United Kingdom. 

By allowing local trainers to witness the camp training, the project helps bring world class standards and long-lasting direct benefits to Hong Kong’s football community as a whole.  It also complements the Jockey Club Youth Football Development Programme – Summer Scheme launched in May to promote football amongst the city’s younger generation.

The MUSS coaches at this year’s training camp are Andy Aspinall, Paul Wroe, Jamie Fitzpatrick and Matthew Johnson. They will provide 66 young footballers aged 12-15 and coaches from the HKFA with world-class football training for two weeks from today till 2 August. Details of The Jockey Club Elite Youth Football Camp are available at 203.215.253.53/youthfootball.

The Jockey Club has been a staunch supporter of local football over the years, including the reconstruction of the Hong Kong Stadium, launch of the three-year Jockey Club Youth Football Development Programme in partnership with the HKFA, and the construction of the Jockey Club Kitchee Centre for training in Shek Mun.  The Club has also supported the HKFA to organise the AFC U-14 Championship 2014-Qualifiers (Group H) Competition in Hong Kong, as well as the Hong Kong Games and its Futsal competition.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is not only one of the world's leading horse racing organisations but also a world top 15 charitable organisation and Hong Kong’s largest community contributor, donating HK$1.7 billion in 2012. It is also a major taxpayer, Hong Kong's single largest by far, generating over HK$16 billion a year for public funds. The Club pioneers technology applications for sporting and betting entertainment, striving for the highest levels of customer service. As a membership club, it is recognised as one of Asia’s most prestigious, with more than 23,000 members. These multifaceted roles make it a well-respected and remarkable organisation, dedicated to its mission of enhancing the quality of life for all Hong Kong people.

Attachments:

  1. Fact Sheet of Jockey Club Elite Youth Football Camp
  2. Brief bios of Manchester United legend Denis Irwin and the coaches

Jockey Club Corporate Business Planning and Programme Management Director Scarlette Leung says the youth football camp reflects the Cluba£į?s commitment to the Hong Kong community to raise the international profile of local sports with world class partners.
Jockey Club Corporate Business Planning and Programme Management Director Scarlette Leung says the youth football camp reflects the Cluba£į?s commitment to the Hong Kong community to raise the international profile of local sports with world class partners.

Photos 2, 3, 4: <br>
Jockey Club Corporate Business Planning and Programme Management Director Scarlette Leung (Photo 4, 2nd right); Manchester United legend Denis Irwin (Photo 4, centre); Hong Kong Football Association Technical Director Steve Oa£į?Connor (Photo 4, 1st right) and the two best performers of last year, Chan Pak-hei (Photo 4, 1st left) and Rico Chan (Photo 4, 2nd left).
Photos 2, 3, 4:
Jockey Club Corporate Business Planning and Programme Management Director Scarlette Leung (Photo 4, 2nd right); Manchester United legend Denis Irwin (Photo 4, centre); Hong Kong Football Association Technical Director Steve Oa£į?Connor (Photo 4, 1st right) and the two best performers of last year, Chan Pak-hei (Photo 4, 1st left) and Rico Chan (Photo 4, 2nd left).



Jockey Club Corporate Business Planning and Programme Management Director Scarlette Leung (back row, centre); Head of Charities Projects Rhoda Chan (back row, 7th right); Manchester United legend Denis Irwin (back row, 7th left); Technical Director of Hong Kong Football Association Steve Oa£į?Connor (back row, 6th right); MUSS coaches and young football players at the opening ceremony.
Jockey Club Corporate Business Planning and Programme Management Director Scarlette Leung (back row, centre); Head of Charities Projects Rhoda Chan (back row, 7th right); Manchester United legend Denis Irwin (back row, 7th left); Technical Director of Hong Kong Football Association Steve Oa£į?Connor (back row, 6th right); MUSS coaches and young football players at the opening ceremony.

Jockey Club Elite Youth Football Camp begins.
Jockey Club Elite Youth Football Camp begins.

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