Brooking backs the Blues

Sir Trevor Brooking will join Chelsea Football Club officials at the Cobham Training ground to open Chelsea’s new Academy and Community Pavilion this Saturday as the club host a tournament for some of the world’s best young players. Brooking will kick off the tournament on 23 August at 10am which will see U16 teams from across four continents including Ajax, River Plate, Bayern Munich and the Suwon Samsung Bluewings as well as Russia’s Tolyatti FC, Lebanon’s Al-Nejmeh FC and some of America’s most talented youngsters representing the Disney Soccer “All-Stars”. The tournament will start at 11am as Chelsea take on River Plate. A full fixture list is available below. Former Chelsea and England legend Ray Wilkins and UEFA’s Executive William Gaillard will wrap up the tournament on Monday by presenting the Cobham Cup to the winners. Chelsea’s Academy is a vital part of the club developing young English talent as well as the best young players from abroad. Over 70 per cent of Chelsea’s Academy are English and it boasts 18 current English internationals between the ages of 16 and 21 years old. The new facilities will also become an integral part of the club’s community work, offering sporting and educational opportunities to young people throughout London and south east England. Last season over 350,000 young people benefited from the club’s leading Football in the Community scheme.

GROUP 1 GROUP 2
1. Chelsea 1. Ajax
2 River Plate 2. Bayern Munich
3 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 3. Tolyatti FC
4 Al-Nejmeh FC 4. Disney Soccer Show-Case “All-stars”

Saturday 23 August
11am
Chelsea v River Plate
12noon
Ajax v Bayern Munich
Suwon Bluewings v Al Nejmeh
Tolyatti FC v Disney All Stars

Sunday 24 August
10.30am
Chelsea v Suwon Bluewing
Ajax v Tolyatti
River Plate v Al Nejmeh
Bayern Munich v Disney All Stars
5pm
Chelsea v Al Nejmeh
Ajax v Disney All Stars

Monday 25 August
11am 2 x Semi-Finals
1pm 4th v 4th and 3rd v 3rd play-off games
3pm 3rd v 4th place Play Off
5pm FINAL