Arsenal International Soccer Festival 2008
The annual Arsenal International Soccer Festival took place on 26th July - 3rd August 2008 and was once again a huge success with 150 teams taking part.Held in the beautiful setting of the University of London's Royal Holloway campus in Egham, the 18th Festival was again an exhibition of great football played in the spirit of Fair Play and international friendship. This year's festival saw a record number of teams travelling from international destinations to compete in the tournament, including teams from as far away as South Africa, USA, Canada, India and Indonesia. Both the British and the international contingents all performed well and the festival saw a record number of honours headed overseas, with the highest number of Cup Final wins (five) ever recorded by visiting teams.
Arsenal International Soccer Festival organiser, Paul Shipwright commented; "The festival continues to be an increasing success year on year, and we are delighted that there are an ever -ncreasing number of British and international teams eager to participate. The festival is a fantastic opportunity for players from around the world to meet others, play in a competitive tournament whilst at the same time having fun"
Wadi Degla has been attending the tournament with a group of youngsters from the Arsenal Soccer School in Eygpt for the last five years, Magde Samy, Director of Wadi Degla, commented; "The children can't wait to come over to the UK each year to take part in the competition. Being regular attendees of an Arsenal Soccer School gives them an opportunity to meet other children and showcase the football skills they have worked hard to learn."
Arsenal were represented by a number of their English and international Soccer Schools, including Devon, Cornwall, Herts, Dublin, Greece, Spain, Indonesia, Egypt and Ireland. Arsenal in the Community were represented by their Positive Futures team, and of course, the Arsenal mascot, Gunnersaurus. Gunner' didn't manage to get a game but he cheered on all the teams from the side lines!
ROLL OF HONOUR (English unless stated)
| CUP | PLATE | FAIR PLAY | |
| U7 | Non competitive | Non competitive | Burnham Juniors |
| U8 | Non Competitive | Non Competitive | QPR |
| U9 | Ascot Utd | Glencoe | Cowley Explorers |
| r/up | Ashbourne Utd ( Ireland) | Simply Soccer | |
| U10 | Highfield Juniors | Simply Soccer | Tirybeth Dynamos (Wales) |
| r/up | Tiryberth Dynamos (Wales) | St Josephs Saturday | |
| U11 Boys | Tooting and Mitcham | Woodley Town | Old Parktonians (Sth Africa) |
| r/up | Actual Soccer | Old Parktonians | |
| U12 Boys | New Windsor | Beeks Soccer | Beeks Soccer |
| r/up | SSI (Indonesia) | BSS Portsmouth | |
| U13 Boys | FC Gold Phoenix (Italy) | Sevenoaks Town | Flying Eagles (USA) |
| r/up | CD Costa del Sol (Spain) | Flying Eagles (USA) | |
| U14 Boys | Watling Club | Beeks Soccer | West Hertford (USA) |
| r/up | Sutton Utd | Brunswick | |
| U15 Boys | Arsenal Soccer School (Greece) | Tata Tea Arsenal (India) FK Orn Horten (Norway) | |
| r/up | West Hertford (USA) | Marks Park (STH Africa) | |
| U16 Boys | West Hertford (USA) | London Juventus (Canada) | Actual Soccer |
| r/up | Actual Soccer | Fernhill | |
| U17 Boys | VE Premier (USA) | AFC Positive Futures | Somerset Hills (USA) |
| r/up | Brunswick | Holmer Green | |
| U19 Boys | Hayes and Yeading | Flying Eagles (USA) | Fort MacMurray (Canada) |
| r/up | Maidenhead | Fort MacMurray (Canada) | |
| Ladies | Wadi Degla FC (Egypt) | Colne Valley | MD Strikers (USA) |
For more information on the festival, including how to apply for the event in 2009 which will take place on 25th July - 2nd August 2009, please visit www.arsenalinternationalsoccerfestival.com or contact Paul Shipwright on pshipwright@arsenal.co.uk.