Italian club search for new superstar (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Italian club search for new superstar

4:27pm Thursday 15th December 2005 in Football

FOOTBALL:TWO talented young footballers from Chippenham could be on their way to an Italian Serie A club after a link-up was arranged between the town council and Messina.

Two Messina technical directors and a coaching team will be coming to Stanley Park during February half-term to coach youngsters.

Youth technical director Claudio Lucchini, who formerly served in the same position at Parma, and former Napoli player Antonio Pinto, now first team technical director at Messina, will be talent spotting during their coaching week.

Council football development officer Duncan Fisher is the man behind bringing the Italian top flight outfit to Stanley Park.

Fisher organised the event through his own personal links with the Luxol Academy in St Andrews, Malta, a feeder academy to the Serie A side.

"Messina have said some of the best players could go back with them to Italy to their academy and see what it is like to train in Europe," said Fisher.

"They will definitely take two but, if the calibre is high, they may take more. They are looking to expand their fan base and gain a higher profile in the UK, and would like to set up a base in Britain.

"If you look around the academies in the Premiership there's a global business that they pull players from.

"There's some good football players in Wiltshire and you never know who they may find."

Those who are selected will train at Messina's training ground in Sicily.

Fisher said he believes having the Italians at the playing fields is the biggest event to hit Stanley Park since the £2 million project opened in October 2004.

Fisher added: "Since I have been at Stanley Park we have had some negative coverage (concerning the sinking of the drainage system) but we are trying to put some positives back and offer the children of Chippenham a great opportunity to train with some of Europe's best coaches.

"Messina are a top side in Italian football and it is a great coup for the town to have a club of that stature come to Chippenham."

Fisher will also invite local coaches to come along and witness the Italians' techniques to pass on to to future generations.

The week-long training scheme is open to 200 youngsters and costs £58.

Budding football stars will be given training from 10am to 3pm and a free Messina kit.

For more information contact Duncan Fisher at Stanley Park on (01249) 463905.