Sevenoaks Town play Paris Saint Germain and coach Sam Lansdale says: It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I want the players to enjoy every moment

SEVENOAKS TOWN’S under 12’s are set to play Paris Saint Germain’s Academy at Camp Ooredoo – the French club’s first team training ground – at the end of May as part of the Kent club’s four-day tour of France.

The Oaks, who will be entering the Kent Youth League as under 13’s next season, found out the news last week and preparations are already underway with training twice a week and additional fitness sessions planned.

Sam Lansdale, who coaches the team, said: “This will be a fantastic test for the team which I’m sure they will relish. We will be working hard over the coming weeks to ensure we are well prepared – the match will be played at a very high intensity so we must be organised and maintain good shape throughout.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I want the players to enjoy every moment. We’ll be going there as underdogs but if the players can embrace that and take the game to PSG then you never know.

“I have fond memories of our old U18’s beating Benfica’s Academy 3-2 back in 2013 – maybe we can repeat the heroics of that night.”

The four-day tour will also include a fixture against Evreux FC, one of France’s leading clubs for the development of young players.

One of their most recent products is Ousmane Dembele who is attracting attention from Manchester United, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Next season, the team are due to fly to Lisbon to train with and play against Sporting Lisbon’s Academy.

Sevenoaks Town has a track record of taking teams across Europe to face some of the continent’s biggest clubs, with previous teams having visited Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus.

Before entering the Kent Youth League next season, the team will be holding open days in May and are currently looking for talented players to join their squad for next season.

For more details, follow this link: http://www.sevenoakstownfc.co.uk/#!u12s-tandridge/c213s

At first team level, manager Micky Collins guided the club to their best ever finish and points tally in the Southern Counties East Football League,  having finished in the top five, collecting 58 points from their 36 league games and they completed their campaign with a personal best of 15 games unbeaten.

Sevenoaks Town are definitely on the upward trend under Collins and chairman Paul Lansdale at the helm.

The Greatness Park club finished second-from-bottom in season 2011-12, bottom of the pile in 2012-13 and then second-from-bottom in 2013-14.

Since Collins took over as manager, Sevenoaks Town have finished in the top eight (2014-15) and fifth-placed this season.

Collins appears to be replicating his progression at his previous club Erith & Belvedere, where he guided the Welling-based club to the Kent League double in his third and final season in charge of the club in 2013.

However, The Deres scored a massive own-goal when they reduced his budget so he decided not to take charge of the club for their forthcoming Ryman League Division One North campaign, which lasted one season as they finished rock bottom thanks to winning six and drawing four of their 46 league games and were relegated.

Visit Sevenoaks Town’s website: www.sevenoakstownfc.co.uk