Being coached by Chelsea, Fulham, and Tottenham staff was all part of the experience for up-and-coming footballers Helen Talbot and Mianna Laing, both 17, during a trip to England.
The Rotorua pair represented the Coerver Coaching Anzac team during a football trip in the recent school holidays.
Helen said theywere selected for the Anzac team during a football camp in Canberra earlier this year.
"From there they chose a team for our age group," she said.
"Most the players were from Australia and three of us were from New Zealand."
"We played pretty well in that game. We actually played pretty well in all the games considering we had never played together."
Mianna Laing
She said she and Mianna both played at the back for most of the tour, but both managed to get on the score sheet.
When the girls were not playing matches they were training at facilities near London.
She said they trained at facilities owned by Tottenham, Fulham, and Chelsea with academy staff taking each session.
She said some of the facilities were unbelievable, including a large dome at the Tottenham grounds which featured indoor pitches.
"They were good trainings. They put it more to our level but made it challenging."
The two Rotorua girls received top awards on tour, with Helen winning the coach's award for best player on tour and Mianna winning the player's player award.
The pair also represented the successful Rotorua United women's team this year which won all three competitions they contested.
Helen thanked Don Hammond for his support in raising funds to go on tour.
Coerver Coaching is a football coaching academy where budding young footballers can grow their skills.
