GO AD-FREE. Get 2 Months Digital Subscription for ONLY £1! Use code 2FOR1
GET STARTEDMore on KentOnline
GO AD-FREE. Get 2 Months Digital Subscription for ONLY £1! Use code 2FOR1
GET STARTEDMore on KentOnline
Talented young footballers took on an Indonesian side in a friendly match held at a school which was broadcast to seven million people.
The match between the Dover Athletic Football Academy - which runs in partnership with the Abbey School in Faversham - and the Indonesia under-17 team saw the Kent side run out 3-2 winners.
The Indonesia team is coached by Chelsea legend, Dennis Wise.
Commentary for the game, which was broadcast live to Indonesia, was provided by Sky Sports commentator and ex-Arsenal striker, Alan Smith, and the game was watched by former England defender Des Walker.
Players combine full-time training with Dover Athletic FC and their studies at the Abbey School in a link up between the club and the school.
Mike Sandmann, academy manager for Dover Athletic, says the game only came at the last minute, describing the occasion as a great opportunity for the young players.
“At 11am I was planning for training, five minutes later Dennis Wise called me and said ‘we’re on the M1 and meant to be playing Charlton but they’ve let us down’ and I went around asking to get boys out of lessons.”
Within an hour, camera crews arrived to set up around the school’s 3G all-weather pitch.
Mr Sandmann added: “It was an experience playing in front of that many people and getting that exposure. But I was just saying to them it’s just another game.”
He says his players were affected by the occasion in the opening 10 minutes but “responded brilliantly”.
“To be honest you can’t blame them and if they want to push on they will have to get used to that,” Mr Sandmann added.
Dennis Wise and Alan Smith posed for pictures with the teams and staff members.
“It was quite surreal watching the highlights and hearing Alan Smith on the commentary and talking about them as individual players and what they were doing on the pitch,” Mr Sandmann said. “It’s great for the club and the school.”
Academy captain, Jack Smith, said: “Not every young player gets the opportunity to have their game live streamed to millions. We certainly didn’t expect to beat them.”
Head teacher Dr Rowland Speller added: “We have a strong relationship with Dover Athletic and year on year we are attracting the best players from around Kent whilst also offering them an excellent academic pathway.
“It’s fantastic exposure.”
