Eight years ago, the Valley Soccer Club’s U-14 boys’ team traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to test its skill in a series of games against opponents from England. This August, the next generation of boys on Valley’s U-14 squad will follow in the footsteps of their predecessors and venture across the across the pond for an 11-day immersion tour of English soccer and culture.

“They’re a great group of boys. They’ve played really well as a team the last few years, so we thought, ‘Why not go again? They deserve this opportunity.’ said Coach Patrick Dilger, who led the first group to England in 2008.

This past fall, the Valley U-14 team won the Southeast District League for the fourth-consecutive season, building on an unbeaten streak in league play that stretches back five years. The athletes who will be making the trek overseas are Logan Bellos, Evan Benson, Michael Brooks, Devon Connelly, Sean Cole, Chris Cook, Nathan Davis, Michael Dilger, Cameron Frazier, Max Gibson, Charlie Haughton, Dan Hearn, Aaron Jaynes, Sam Ocken, Ryan Shasha, Chris Sparaco, Dylan Sparaco, and Jaden Veiga. The group of 18 boys and their 12 chaperones will be based in the small village of Uppermill in Lancashire northwest England, which is just a short drive from the soccer hotbeds of Liverpool and Manchester. The boys will play as many as seven games against local teams, attend professional games at all levels, visit famous stadiums, and take in a bunch of varied activities from caving in North Yorkshire to the roller coasters of Blackpool and the medieval walls and alleys of York.

“The English game is challenging and it’s great prep for these players as they begin their high school careers,” Dilger said. “‘Football’ is a way of life in England, so it’s a wonderful opportunity for the boys to experience that culture, interact with players their own age, and gain an insight into the professional game.”

The team has been fundraising for the past few months and is holding a Shake, Rattle & Goal! silent auction and dance at the Stone House at 245 Main Street on Deep River on Saturday, May 14 from 6 to 10 p.m. The event will include live music from The Dizzy River Band, complimentary beer and wine, plus appetizers, Tickets are $35 per person in advance or $40 at the door. For more information, to attend, or make a donation, contact Sarah Waterhouse at toddsarah1217@comcast.net or at 860-460-1072.