Matrix A Winner At Umbro International Youth Tournament

The Matrix Soccer Academy fielded a scratch side in the Youth Tournament of Manchester’s Umbro International Cup earlier this month and ended up winning the Under 12’s Plate Final. Despite playing mainly under-age squad members and competing against European sides that were more experienced and physically bigger, the North West youngsters acquitted themselves extremely well, impressing onlookers with some scintillating fluid football that epitomised the skilful Matrix style.

Founded more than two years ago by Blackburn Rovers’ Advanced Technical Skills Development Coach, Charlie Jackson, and entrepreneur, Tahir Khan, Matrix is a skills-based soccer academy for young players up to 16 years old. Teaching a mix of Brazilian, Dutch, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish techniques and embodying the ethos of ‘total football’, Matrix is highly rated by many international coaches and players, as well as being filmed and endorsed by UEFA. In contrast with conventional coaching that focuses on conditioning work and grid-based training, the Matrix technical skills model aims to improve ball control, vision, awareness and creative technique.

“We train young players of either sex, who play for many different clubs and academies, so we don’t run Matrix teams in any leagues,” explains Tahir. “Since this is recognised as one of the truly great youth tournaments in the world, we decided to enter a Matrix squad for the first time, to give Charlie and our other coaches an indication of how our youngsters would fare in a competitive arena.”

With many Matrix trainees already attached to Premiership and Championship academies and thus unavailable for this competition, Charlie and Tahir selected a team of youngsters, half of whom are only 11 and agreed to play up a year in the Under 12 Youth Tournament. Competing against teams from Europe and England, they eventually beat Icelandic side Keflavin 3-1 in the Plate semi-final, before breaking with England tradition and defeating Lourdes FC of France on penalties in the final, having drawn 2-2.

The successful Matrix squad comprised: Kamran Khan, captain (12) of Blackburn, Liam Bickett (12) of Walkden, Manchester, Daniel Walsh (11) of Manchester, Bradley Lewis (12) of Manchester, Dhanyaal Khan (11) of Bolton, Ryan Bradbury (12) of Manchester, Mitchell Clayton (12) of Chorley, Umar Chadat (12) of Bolton, James Quigley (11) of Preston, Bradley Wickes (11) of Preston, Saul Hamer (12) of Longridge, Cauley Monkhouse (11) of Trawden, and Sam Griffiths (11) of Manchester.

“They played some very good European opposition and passed the ball on the ground with excellent proficiency,” says Charlie Jackson. “It was sometimes hilarious to see our youngsters playing against lads almost twice their size, but they played a lot of football that was pleasing on the eye and refreshing in terms of ball-playing skills. For us, it certainly proved that the Matrix coaching model really works.”