Everton hosted Japan's Uwara East High School squad recently. The team has a link with The Uwara Reds J League side and in the past players from the school have gone on to play for the senior side.

The head of the delegation that visited Finch Farm, Mr Ito, is also the chairman of the J League Third Division, which is roughly the equivalent to the Blue Square Premier League.

"It was great to welcome the boys from Japan," said Everton's Under-18s coach, Neil Dewsnip, to the club's website. "They were a credit to their club and I think it's always beneficial for everyone when two different cultures come together in a footballing sense. They can learn from us and we can learn from them.

"The coaching sessions were very good and although the technical level of the Japanese boys is a bit behind our own, they are certainly talented players and they have a huge willingness to learn.

"The Uwara East High School visits us every year and have done for the past five years. It's a relationship we're very proud of."