The beautiful game had a decidedly proper ring to it at Springwood Park this week, as Michael Whitehead and three of his peers were in Parksville as part of a soccer camp put on by UK-based Challenger Sports.
“I did a camp here three weeks ago on this pitch,” he said last week when The NEWS stopped by. “Brilliant. Great part of the Island, I love it here,” he said through a strong British accent.
At that camp he said they had around 60 kids out “and this one we’ve got roughly the same.”
Last week’s camp, which ran Monday through Friday, was for children aged 3-11. Some of the kids he said are full day campers, there from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. with an hour for lunch, but the majority are there for a half day.
They’re also holding 90 minute First Kicks camps for children aged 3-4.
“This is our third time on the Island but Challenger Sports has been hosting soccer camps in Canada for around eight years now.”
“We just want them to get a great experience out of their soccer,” he said. “We’re not an elitist camp, we ask for any age, any ability. We want them to have fun, have a great experience, and they learn things as well.”
“I love it here… I worked out of here last year and each year the numbers just get better and the kids are improving so much.”
