7 Elite Academy UK youngsters raised over £1,500 in Liverpool as part of a campaign to attend a major youth football tournament in the United States.

The group of players joined LFC fans at Hotel Tia in Anfield on Saturday, as they gear up for a trip to play in the 2020 7 Elite Academy Invitational Tournament in Utah and Nevada.

A grand total of £1,518.60 was generated by the bucket collection – kicking off a series of similar events ahead of the competition, which runs over four days in February next year.

Zoe Metcalfe, whose sons play for 7 Elite Academy UK Under-12s and Under-14s, organised the event to coincide with LFC’s home match against Newcastle United.

She said: “The 7 Elite Academy boys and their families put a huge amount of effort into Saturday’s fundraiser and they are fully prepared to continue that work over the next few months. I am so proud of them.

“The players are really looking forward to travelling to the US, not only for the games but also the chance to sample the many different excellent cultures in that region.

“There is a tradition of fundraising for big tournaments by 7 Elite Academy youngsters and I was delighted to see so many players and parents take part.

“It was great to mix with LFC supporters at Hotel Tia and I can’t thank them enough for their generosity. The boys didn’t stop smiling and saying thank you to the fans!

“We want to hold many more fundraisers in the run-up to the tournament, including collections at Everton games, bag packing at supermarkets and even a mountain climb.

The 2020 7 Elite Academy Invitational Tournament will run from February 6th to 8th, with games due to take place in St. George in Utah and Mesquite in Nevada.

Teams from across the United States are due to take part in the competition, with the 7EA UK team being the first international side to enter.

Anthony Godfrey, Global Academy Director at 7 Elite Academy, said: “A trip to play in the United States has so many potential benefits for our youngsters, both in terms of the game itself and how they develop off the field.

“By having them work hard to raise funds, we are also teaching them that such opportunities don’t come without sacrifice and a lot of background planning.

“It is so important the boys make the most of this opportunity and that includes learning important lessons before, during and after the tournament.

“I am so proud of how hard they worked on Saturday and I am confident they will continue that over the coming weeks and months.

“Key to our philosophy is that young people make the most of their time with us by developing as players, but also by enjoying fantastic opportunities that they wouldn’t get elsewhere.

“It is opportunities like these that can potentially help 7 Elite Academy players to progress to playing college soccer in the US in the future.”

For more detail about fundraising opportunities ahead of the 7 Elite Academy Invitational Tournament, email [email protected].