Everton launch 'Football Dream' in China

Lyndon Lloyd , 3 May, 10comments | Jump to most recent

Everton have joined forces with Dutch giants Ajax to launch a new sport entertainment television programme in China aimed at fostering development of the beautiful game in that country.

Supported directly by the Chinese government and Global Media Productions (GMP), "Football Dream" aims to to recruit and develop young players aged 14 to 17 in the world's most populous nation.

60 youngsters were identified last summer after a series of trials when Marouane Fellaini kicked off an Everton Club tour of China that took in six different cities.

According to an announcement on Evertonfc.com, "those players will now battle it out to earn a trip to Europe and the chance to experience the workings of either Everton's prestigious Finch Farm training headquarters or the renowned Ajax Academy."

It's the latest initiative undertaken by Everton to further the Club's ties, visibility and influence in the Far East and is similar to a previous TV programme undertaken in Canada under former CEO, Keith Wyness.

Current Chief Executive Robert Elstone said of Football Dream: “This exciting project will complement some of the work already being undertaken to enhance and raise the Club's profile on the global stage, while further boosting our reputation as one of the leading identifiers of football talent.

“We look forward to working in China in the coming months and to welcoming some of the lucky participants to Finch Farm later this year. We are delighted to be able to contribute to the development of the players for their own personal benefit and in a small way for football in China.”

Quotes or other material sourced from EvertonFC

Reader Comments (10)

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Bob Parrington
1 Posted 03/05/2013 at 08:57:05

Great initiative. My neighbours in Australia are Chinese people with businesses in China and my wife and I went over there initially for Chinese New Year in 2012 but stayed a while afterwards. I'd already been over there o a few business trips but this gave me a different perspective. There is a massive market for most things but it is probably a good time to promote Everton and Ajax over there. I saw plenty of Man U and Chelsea shirts but not much of anything else PL.

The government new 5 year plan is much more about growing internal GDP rather than export and there are hoards of youngsters now with good levels of disposable income.

COYB

Brent Stephens
2 Posted 03/05/2013 at 09:07:40

Sounds like a positive step, the sort we've been bemoaning the absence of. Unless "It's the latest initiative undertaken by Everton to further the Club's ties" means they're trying to shift a stock of those things you wrap round your neck.

Paul Ellam
3 Posted 03/05/2013 at 12:33:52

Anything that heightens our profile abroad is ok by me.
Maybe we will even start selling shirts outside of L4 then too!

Jason Heng
4 Posted 03/05/2013 at 15:41:34

Save the money and the time. The 60 kids selected are probably those whose parents are sufficiently rich and well-connected to "buy" them a shot at stardom. The most talented footballers are working in the farms or factories somewhere.

John Gee
5 Posted 03/05/2013 at 17:22:55

Is it just me who thinks that the this thread and the new badge thread should be combined?

something is nagging at me regarding the almost cartoonish nature of the badge and trying to get a load of Chinese kids interested in our club.

Colin Glassar
6 Posted 03/05/2013 at 20:55:34

There must be loads of billionaires in China so why aren't we saying, "Okay, we'll train your kids but ffs gives us a few quid in return." We must have the worst commercial team in the Prem. I read somewhere that we make £11m quid a year thanks to our 'commercial activities'... Pathetic.

Chris Leyland
7 Posted 03/05/2013 at 21:11:05

Colin - maybe that is exactly what we are doing?

Colin Glassar
8 Posted 03/05/2013 at 22:14:19

I hope so Chris, those Chinese are loaded and are richer than the Arabs these days.

Tony McArdle
9 Posted 04/05/2013 at 09:15:44

I wasn't aware of a similar "TV programme undertaken in Canada under former CEO, Keith Wyness". Can anybody enlighten me as to the benefits to date of that exercise?

James Stewart
10 Posted 04/05/2013 at 14:49:13

@874 Spot on.

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