The Reds youngsters undergoing RAF Cadet training
Liverpool FC Under 18’s changed up their training routine this week, trading their football kit for military fatigues to experience life as servicemen as part of an initiative to develop their team skills and mind-set, without a Netbet bonus code in sight.
Players were given an insider glimpse into the life of an RAF recruit, spending 24 hours at the home of the Defence School of Engineering at RAF Cosford where they tried their hands at an array of activities and were treated like Phase 2 trade trainees.
LFC’s trip to RAF Cosford followed the U23’s RAF Men’s Development Squads (MDS) successful visit to the LFC Academy in Kirkby last month. LFC U18’s Manager Neil Critchley led the RAF squad in a training session ahead of their competitive Inter Service fixture against the Royal Navy that they went on to win 4-0.
Visits of this nature ensure LFC Academy players understand and respect the work of different individuals within the community; it also gives them tangible real world experience outside of football.
Liverpool FC Academy Director, Alex Inglethorpe said: “At the Liverpool FC Academy we strive to give our players real world experience as well as on the pitch experience, that’s what these visits are all about. Today’s visit let the lads experience something new and has undoubtedly opened their eyes to the hard work and dedication of the RAF”.
Sargeant Paddy O’Brien, Avionics Training Flight instructor at RAF Cosford said “We wanted to demonstrate to the Academy players the skill link between RAF Football and the jobs we carry out on a daily basis. Sport plays a huge part in service life and we wanted to show how skills learnt within the game are fully transferable to the work place environment. Being part of a team whilst retaining the ability of how to operate autonomously are key on both the football pitch and as a service person within the Royal Air Force.”
As well as being a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, Liverpool FC works to support the Armed Forces community through the Liverpool FC Foundation’s successful Military Veterans Program which helps to re-engage ex-military service men and women with physical activity and recapture the spirit of service and comradeship.
To find out more about the LFC Foundation Military Veterans Program visit: http://foundation.liverpoolfc.com/military-veterans
To find out more about the RAF please visit: https://www.raf.mod.uk
