The Eton College 1st and 2nd X1 football teams have been in Spain recently on a training camp with our Community coach / Women's Centre Of Excellence Director Tristan Lewis.

Their base, Oliva Nova, is a 5-star sports resort outside Valencia used by many top European teams, including Villareal who prepared for their weekend victory over Valencia prior to the boys arrival.

The group arrived in jubilant mood with the news that the College had come top of the Times A-level league tables, a fantastic achievement and one the boys were proud of and so they were champing at the bit for a week of training at the complex.

The week has involved the boys working on developing their understanding of many aspects of football and improving their fitness and technical sharpness ahead of the start of their season in September, which will see Tristan working with them twice a week throughout the year.

They have played two games so far and recorded two convincing wins against talented Spanish youth sides. The boys responded to the hot weather and twice daily training sessions really well.

They conclude their week with two more fixtures against other Spanish sides and a day trip to see the sites in Valencia.

The tour has been a great experience for the boys and Tristan and they look in great shape for the coming campaign which will see them try and reach the English ISFA Cup final for the first time in the college's history.

Andy Jennings, head of football at the college, said, "We set out with the aim to provide a first class pre-season experience in a professional setting.

"Oliva Nova and the travel company Inspiresport provided much of what we were looking for, but the final ingredient of coaching expertise came from Tristan and all of the experience he has picked up at Reading Football Club."