Lee’s dream of a professional football career becomes reality as he is signed by Premier League Club Ventspils…
Buckswood student Hyeokjun Lee from South Korea, returned to the school this week for a grand farewell as he begins his professional playing career after a successful trail for Latvian Premiership side FK Ventspils. Based in Ventspils Olimiskais Stadion in Ventspils, the team are one of the most popular football clubs in Latvia. The club play in the Latvian Virsliga and were last year’s league champions. The club have won six league titles and six Latvian cups and in 2009, FK Ventspils became the first Latvian club to take part in the group stages of the UEFA competitions after beating BATE Borisov from Belarus.
Lee is the youngest player in the team and has been living with other players in the squad in Latvia since his trial in early January. Lee has impressed the coaches to secure a professional contract and wears the number 8 shirt on the pitch. Lee has already played for the team and been featured on national television scoring a blinding goal to take Ventspils through to the second round.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QJzEurxZ0Q&feature=youtu.be
Lee and his family visited Buckswood on Friday and the whole school were very proud of their latest football signing. Talking about his experience so far Lee said “ Buckswood has really helped me prepare for this. Most of the other players are Latvian, but I am having no problems in training or living with my team mates as we all speak in English. Going to school in an International school has meant that this huge step has been much easier for me to cope with as I am already used to working with peers from different backgrounds and cultures. I’d really like to thank Buckswood for making my dream a reality and my coach Daryl Willard, has really brought my game on to the point where I have signed a professional 3 year contract”.
Buckswood School is home to two successful Football Academies. The Junior Academy is run by Chelsea Football Club Foundation and offers Chelsea coaching for 11 – 13 year old girls and boys. The Junior Football Academy feeds directly into the Senior Academy run by Buckswood Director of Football UEFA PRO licence coach Daryl Willard for 14 – 18 year olds. Daryl brings with him Premiership experience having worked at Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, before moving to Azerbaijan at the invitation of Ex-England Captain and Arsenal Captain Tony Adams to coach a Premier League side, and then, subsequently being promoted to the post of Sporting Director of the Football Association.
“With Daryl’s contacts across the professional football spectrum, Buckswood’s Academy scholars are being seen regularly by Premier League scouts and the opportunities and experiences that those connections bring means that the Academy players are really living the football dream.” Said Buckswood Headteacher Mr Redsell. “we have already had seven Premiership and Professional trials last term, and this year looks more promising with players taking trials in Europe and beyond”.
Buckswood School is an international school and attracts pupils from all over the globe. The benefits of an international education are self-evident, and never more so than in the Football Academies. Players have the advantage of training with and against boys who are used to the South American, European, Asian and African styles of play. “The cross-development opportunities for the academy boys are amazing at Buckswood and it is the most diverse environment I have ever worked in,” said Daryl Willard. “It is no wonder that Buckswood are feared on the fixtures list and boast a long winning record. It’s like boxing against a southpaw or Freddy Flintoff delivering a curve ball – having the ability to surprise your opponent at every turn”.
To support the Football Academies, Buckswood have just invested in £200K worth of high tech gym equipment and are looking forward to welcoming new players this term including Under 17s World Cup players, so watch this space for more developments.