Kent based Soccer Elite FA are well underway in preparing to take almost 400 people to a football tournament in Barcelona at the end of the month.

The Maidstone based Academy will be taking over 170 players for the four day trip which will also include a trip to the Nou Camp, home of European giants Barcelona.

Having gone to Valencia with around 230 people last year, Soccer Elite have used their partnership with Barcelona to take seventeen teams out to Spain for the three day tournament.

In what can only be described as a logistical nightmare, Stuart Bell and the team at Soccer Elite FA have planned the flights, the accommodation and the entire stay for the massive touring party with 17 SEFA designated coaches making the trip too.

One of those flying out with the squad is former Charlton Athletic and England Under 21 International Richard Rufus and he is looking forward to seeing how the teams shape up against opposition from around the globe:

“It’s a great chance for these guys to go out there and show what they are capable of, whilst having fun. I never had anything like Soccer Elite when I was growing up and to have the chance to go out to Barcelona is one they should grab with both hands.”

“It’s a massive undertaking for a lot of these young guys to step up and show what they are capable of, but what better place to go and play than Barcelona?”

“The weather is going to be a lot nicer over there and the facilities are first class, so it’ll be a good test for them to play against teams from all around the world.”

SEFA will be representing England over the three days with teams coming from within Spain, including sides from Espanyol, Bilbao, Valencia and Barcelona, with Ibiza, Canada, Venezuela and Japan making up the ninety plus team tournament.

Having been issued with their kit for the tournament at the Mercure Great Danes Hotel in Maidstone, the 170 plus players were clearly excited about the prospect of making the trip to Barcelona with Scott Higgins telling KSN about what he’s looking forward to the most:

“It’s going to be great to go over there and see where Barcelona play. It should help my technique and it’ll be good to see how other teams from other countries play.”

“Soccer Elite has been really good for me as I’ve improved and learnt a few new tricks.”

Meanwhile, Luca Borello is equally excited by the prospect of seeing teams from all around the world:

“I’m excited to see how other teams train and prepare for games. It would be nice if we get to see some of the Barcelona players whilst we’re out there, but it’s all about enjoying the experience.”

Another player looking forward to the trip is Josh Gilbert, who told KSN how it is something that’s been spoken about amongst the players for some time:

“There’s a real buzz between the boys and we just can’t wait to get out there now.”

“Everything looks amazing and it’ll be great to play against teams to see where we are at.”

“I want to be a professional footballer and Soccer Elite is helping me achieve my dream and to go to Barcelona is something else.”

“Everyone has been working really hard lately as they all want to be involved and hopefully we can go out there and make everyone proud of us.”

SEFA prides itself in bringing young players, both boys and girls, into the Academy and developing them into better players, but ensuring they keep to their core philosophies which include keeping it fun.

Travelling to Barcelona in such great numbers holds a great responsibility to maintain standards at all times and Stuart Bell told KSN how he wants SEFA to be the standard that everyone else follows:

“We see SEFA as just more than just an Academy, we travel as a family and that’s important to us. We want everyone to be involved in what we’re doing and it’s the responsibility of everyone that goes to Barcelona that they keep to the standards that we strive for.”

“We’re going out there to enjoy ourselves, but we also want to go out there and win. Everyone knows what is expected of them and we hope the four days is something that lives long in the memory.”

“It has been a bit of a nightmare trying to organise everything, but it’ll all be worth it when we get there and start playing football.”

“The coaches have all worked really hard and it’s great that we can take so many players out there after success in recent years.”

All of the players received their kit and instructions for the trip on Thursday and in just under 14 days they will be boarding one of the 23 flights that will be flying into Barcelona Airport.

They’ll be staying in over 110 villas at Cambrils with former Welling United midfielder Connor Heffernan one of the coaches joining up with the SEFA squad out there.

Heffernan currently plays for Orihuela CF out in Spain and will take charge of the Under 16’s for the tournament.