The Forest School's Tour to Real Madrid
What was your main aim/objective for this tour?
The main aim of this tour was to experience football in a different country and immerse them in a different city to invest in their cultural capital.
Why did you choose this destination?
It was a new destination for us as a school, and the pull of training at the Real Madrid training centre!
Can you briefly describe what fixtures/training you took part in during this tour?
We had 3 training sessions with Real Madrid coaches at the Ciudad Real Madrid (Real Madrid's training ground). This was an amazing experience!
The facilities are outstanding, the coaching is well planned and the coaches tailor the sessions to the strengths and areas of development for your group.
The fixtures were against two local teams that were chosen to challenge the two teams that we brought on the tour. The different styles of football played in Spain were really evident and gave our teams a challenge to compete with.
Why did you choose these?
We wanted the students to have the unique and once-in-a-lifetime experience at training at the training facility of one of the most famous sports clubs in the world, using world-class facilities that are not usually available to us.
We wanted to give the students competitive games that would expose them to different styles of football, much like English teams face when they play in European competitions.
The opponents we faced really added to the experience by walking out onto the pitch much like they do in the Champions League. This made for great photos and really added to the occasion.
What will be your lasting memories of this tour?
Arriving at the training ground and stepping off the coach like a pro team into a sprawling city dedicated to football was incredible. The whole of Madrid was buzzing, and it was a great city to explore.
What did students get out of this tour?
They loved all the footballing elements and really felt like it was a special trip being able to train at the Real Madrid training centre.
Why did you choose Halsbury for this tour?
We had used Halsbury for our previous sports tours and have always been impressed with the level of support and communication from Halsbury. We had everything we needed for the tours to run faultlessly. This gives great confidence to those leading the tours.
What was it like to be touring again?
Initially nerve wracking, but the support from Halsbury really made it a great experience!
How would you describe the experience of working with Halsbury on this tour?
Professional, supportive. It feels like we are working together and really get the best out of the tour. You feel like partners more than customers.
Would you recommend Halsbury to your friends and colleagues?
I would definitely recommend Halsbury! The support to the tour leaders is so good, and they are always at the end of the phone or email to answer any questions.
Ready to start planning your football tour?
Please don’t hesitate to contact us for further information or to request a tailor-made quote.