Everton skipper Phil Neville loves the move to include the academy in their preseason tour.
This year Everton Academy staff and coaches travelled alongside the senior players, making it very much a case of 'Finch Farm on tour'.
And Neville, who is now in his seventh pre-season as a Blues player, says the move is indicative of the Club's emphasis on youth development.
He told evertontv: "It epitomises what Everton is about, going away together, and most of all everyone really enjoyed themselves.
"We all ate together, we mixed around the place, we used the same games facilities and we used the same gym.
"There was a great camaraderie between the Academy boys and the Academy staff and ourselves.
"And you know what it is like at Everton, there were lots of jokes and pranks going on and it helped us through the long days.
"We had three sessions a day starting at 7am so the days were tough and the spirit and the togetherness helped us through it."
