Summer of football schools in Romford

Premier League footballer Paul Konchesky and the son of a former West Ham legend have teamed up to launch a new soccer school for youngsters to be run during the summer holidays.

Anthony Sealey, son of Alan, who scored both goals for the Hammers in the 1965 European Cup Winners’ Cup Final against Munich 1860 is organsing the school, but Leicester City defender Konchesky, who still lives in Stapleford Abbots, will be very much part of things.

The BA Sports Summer Holiday Soccer Camp kicks off on Monday, July 22 and will take place on a weekly basis throughout the holidays at Marshalls Park School in Pettits Lane, Romford.

It is open to boys and girls between the ages of four and 11 and will take place each Monday to Friday between 10am and 3pm.

For Konchesky, who scored for West Ham in the FA Cup Final against Liverpool back in 2006, it is something he is keen to do.

“I have been wanting to get involved with coaching youngsters for a while now and though I still have commitments as a player at the moment, I want to get into that side of things in the future,” said the 33-year-old, who started pre-season training with top flight new boys Leicester this week.

“I will be at the school every day off I get from Leicester and putting the lads through their paces and answering their questions.”

So how did Sealey and Konchesky get together? It was really by way of a chance meeting.

“I took my little boy to a little coaching session on a Sunday morning and Anthony just happened to be running it,” added the Essex footballer.

“I wasn’t going to say anything, but my wife suggested I go and talk to him and it went on from there.”

Konchesky knows a bit about coaching youngsters. As a kid he played for the famous Senrab club which helped launch the careers

of the likes of John Terry, Sol Campbell, Jermain Defoe and many others, as well as Konchesky.

“It’s important to have the sort of coaching I did when I was young. We want kids to learn the game, but also enjoy their football,” said Konchesky. “The emphasis is on enjoying football and having some fun games.

“I want to get these kids off the street and it will be somewhere safe and well-organised for their parents to send them.

“The World Cup is on at the moment and we want to get hold of the youngsters where they are excited about what they have seen and get them out there playing.”

Sealey is also looking forward to working with the Premier League player this summer.

“It’s great to have someone like that involved with us.” said Sealey.

“We are planning lots of fun things for the youngsters to do, including their own World Cup at the end of the week, so we are hoping that it is really going to kick off.”

The cost of the school is either £15 per day, or it will cost £65 for the whole week.

To book a place on one of the five weekly courses, or for more information, then either ring 07922 309992 or 07956 620444.