Summer sports course proves popular with European visitor.

A YOUNG German footballer has risen through the ranks of a summer holiday skills course in Grimsby and will next year return to the scheme as a volunteer coach.

Patrick Doering, aged 14 and from Birkenau near Mannheim, has been attending Bradley Football Development Centre’s week-long football course for the last four years during the summer holidays when visiting his grandparents in the town. Next year he will be too old to take part in the course but his coaches have been so impressed with his attitude they have invited him back to help coach youngsters on the scheme.

A keen goalkeeper and former attendee of the competitive Frankfurt and Bayern Munich academies, Patrick has shown great interest, commitment and skill in the town’s popular course for budding young footballers.

Patrick, whose ambition is to play as a professional footballer, said: “I’ve really enjoyed getting involved and working with the coaches on the course. It’s been great exercise and also a lot of fun. We do tests throughout the week such as skills challenges and penalty shoot-outs, as well as compete against each other in a friendly mini-league event.”

Patrick won the skills challenge for his age range this year, scoring a record 297 points out of a maximum 300.

Patrick added: “I’m looking forward to coming back next year and working with the coaches on the programme, it’ll be a new experience for me but one that I’m sure I’ll get a lot out of.”

Glyn Cook, one of Patrick’s coaches during the week, said: “Patrick is easy to work with; always enthusiastic and encourages others in his team and group. When he’s here all the other kids look up to him. He’s a great role model.”

Lincs Inspire’s Bradley Football Development Centre has this summer worked with a total of 170 young footballers during two week-long football courses. Certificates have been awarded to all the young people for their commitment and enthusiasm, with trophies and medals handed to those individuals who have gone the extra mile.

The October half term football course takes place from Monday, October 27 to Friday, October 31. It is for children aged five to 14 and takes place each day from 10am to 3pm. The week’s course costs £30 and ‘extra time’ activities are available each day for £2 from 8:30am to 10am or from 3pm to 5:30pm.

To book a place contact (01472) 325300 or email [email protected]