Tottenham Hotspur will deliver its world-renowned Soccer Schools programme throughout Australia in 2017 as a direct legacy of the Club's recent visits to the country.
The First Team has toured Australia in consecutive years, playing in front of a sell-out crowd in a friendly match against Sydney FC at the ANZ Stadium in May 2015 before competing in the International Champions Cup in Melbourne at the MCG last July.
Alongside both tours, the Club delivered a comprehensive grassroots coaching programme to young players within both cities, using authentic methods practiced within an Academy that has produced the likes of Harry Kane, Danny Rose and Harry Winks in recent years.
In Melbourne, over 3,000 young players benefitted from this work over the course of the team's week-long stay – now, in partnership with Esquire Collective, the Club will deliver 12 Soccer Schools at selected regions across Australia during the coming year.
Three first class venues have been confirmed for January – The David Phillips Sports Complex at the University of New South Wales, Scotch College in Perth and the iconic ANZ Stadium in Sydney: scene of the 2000 Olympic Games and England's dramatic Rugby World Cup Final victory in 2003.
It builds upon a huge increase in the popularity of football in Australia – recently announced as the country's largest club-based participation sport following research carried out by the Australian Sports Commission, overtaking traditional favourites such as Cricket, Rugby League and Aussie Rules.
Grant Cornwell MBE, Head of Global Coaching, Tottenham Hotspur, said: "We have been overwhelmed with the response our grassroots work alongside recent First Team tours has received in Australia.
"The tours are about so much more than one-off friendly matches and revenue – the Club is committed to developing the game at grassroots level across the world and we are delighted to be able to deliver a legacy in Australia building on from the work we have already done.
"We have seen first-hand how the popularity of the game is growing in Australia and, working in partnership with Esquire Collective, we are confident that our authentic coaching programmes will help us engage with many more young players across the country."
Esquire Collective is a project management and professional services company working across sport, entertainment and lifestyle in Australia.
Co-Founder and Director, Ted Helliar, said "Having worked closely with Spurs across their last two tours to Australia we have been nothing but impressed with the Club's professionalism and accessibility.
"Spurs' global commitment to grassroots football development will now be showcased nationally across Australia with all major cities and some regional centres getting access to the world-class, authentic coaching."
*Official release from Tottenham Hotspur FC
