Over a thousand football fans watched as stars from the past comfortably beat Soccer Elite 5-0 at the Gallagher Stadium all in aid of three local charities.

Raising in excess of £3000 for three great charities, Demelza Hospice Care for Children, Heart of Kent Hospice and Teens Unite, the game on Friday night saw fans packed into Maidstone United’s stadium with former internationals Dave Beasant, Des Walker and Luther Blissett turning out for the former pros side.

There was also a good turnout from former Gillingham players as Andy Hessenthaler, Steve Lovell, Simon Osborn, Neil Smith and Richard Carpenter were just some of those that donned their football boots once more to raise money for the charities.

With Dover Athletic manager Nicky Forster bagging a brace along with former Wales international Andy Legg, it was no surprise the former pros beat their Soccer Elite opponents 5-0 on the night.

However, it was former Wimbledon and England goalkeeper Dave Beasant that stole the show as at the tender age of 53, pulling off a succession of saves to prevent the Soccer Elite side, managed by former Gillingham midfielder Danny Spiller, from scoring.

Soccer Elite FA work within the local community to get kids of all ages into playing football and more can be found out about some of their courses run around the county at www.soccerelitefa.com

They also have a busy schedule of events coming up including their Charity Gala Event at Turkey Mill on the evening of Saturday 9th February – again for the same 3 charities, their Scholars have been invited to play against the Welsh u18’s side at their new training complex at Newport on 15th February plus age group fixtures for their Academy sides against QPR, Liverpool & Gillingham.

Pictures kindly supplied by http://www.kjlastphotography.com/

More info from Soccer Elite FA:
We currently run 4 Scholarship squads accounting for 1st & 2nd year Scholars who combine morning education with afternoon training between 2pm & 4pm, coupled with playing fixtures on the majority of Wednesday’s either within the National College League or against pro Academy sides including Blackpool, Charlton, Gillingham, Chelsea, Fulham & AFC Wimbledon to name but a few over recent weeks.

We are proud of our title of National College Cup Winners 2012 when our 1st year Scholars triumphed against 2nd/3rd year Scholars on the way to the title & in beating The Gordon Strachan Foundation at Bristol City’s ground in May. In additional to that specific achievement our Scholars have been invited to Finland, Sweden & other European destinations based upon performances against pro Academies &/or in competitive matches. This extends to 2013 when a Scholarship side will be competing in Barcelona Trophy 2013 between March 28th & 31st.

Our collective squads of players are a credit to the entire programme & with our unique coaching approach & philosophy continuing to reap dividends, we look forward to being able to fulfil fixtures against the Regional Welsh FA sides comprising of North & South Wales together with the overall collective National team in due course.

Whilst Scholarship level is the primary focus of this introduction & positional note, I have provided below a ‘potted’ resume of the broader Soccer Elite FA Academy to offer an insight into the set up & its achievements over the course of the last 6 years. In doing so, it might provide additional opportunities for fixtures in younger years if & when you have capacity to accommodate them.

Soccer Elite FA – An Academy Jewel:

Since the beginning in 2006, Soccer Elite FA have grown into the most successful single enterprise Academy in the South East with player numbers now exceeding 700 within its main Academy set up. Supporting the proposition is three state of the art 3g facilities which provide our core venues, with in excess of 25 qualified coaches assigned to deliver our rolling Academy schedule of sessions that run right through the year.

Our Academy consists of players across all age ranges from school reception year up to & including our 1st year Scholars at 17+, with our entire Academy model built around a Player Performance Pyramid that differentiates player ability between 3 core levels – Development, Advanced & Elite. This model is a constant & ensures that as & when new talent is identified, we are able to offer them the right level of development commensurate with their ability. In addition, it provides & enables internal progression of players as ability levels improve due to our unique approach to player development & enrichment.

Throughout the last 3 years we have established hugely credible partnerships with professional Acadamies ranging from Liverpool, Everton, Blackpool, Aston Villa, Fulham & Chelsea through to more local set ups such as Charlton, Crystal Palace, Leyton Orient & Gillingham. Our relationships with these sides are built upon the quality of play & indeed player that Soccer Elite nurture & develop, which has now seen in excess of 100 individuals being signed by professional Academies across all age groups together with 2 England Internationals at youth level. Part of our vision is to be the conduit that enables young talented players to ‘live the dream’ of a professional footballer & we are committed to making this happen for as many players as possible.

The list of testimonials from professional Academy coaches ranging from Mark Delaney at Aston Villa, Mickey Beale at Liverpool (previously Chelsea) & Paul Hart at Charlton are exemplary, wholeheartedly backing-up & supporting every aspect of Soccer Elite’s unique & unrivalled development program of player enrichment & engagement. In many cases Soccer Elite have become a main feeder of players into these Academies, operating in an ETC/DTC capacity. Through our regular & formalised fixture programmes against professional Academy sides, scouts & coaches are able to see & experience the quality of player provided by Soccer Elite, thereby becoming the major contributor to players then signing for those Academies.

Our internal coaching model is wholly aligned to our Player Performance Pyramid, offering qualified coaches of all abilities the opportunity to develop their coaching skills & techniques alongside the right group of players. With a key ingredient for coaches working with the top end of our players being to have competed & played the game at high-level, personal experience is then inter-woven with the right technical knowledge, skills & delivery style to provide an environment that engenders enthusiasm, passion, desire & commitment within players to want to excel.

Recent results at the prestigious European Youth tournament in Valencia demonstrate the strength in depth across age groups ranging from 8’s to 16’s, securing 4 semi-final places, 1 runners-up & 1 champion side, culminating in Soccer Elite winning the ‘Best Academy’ accolade against luminary professional Academies from across the European football landscape.