This year, due to other commitments Brazilian Soccer Schools will not be running a Holiday Course over the Easter School Holidays, but evening sessions will continue during the two-week Easter Break. However, there will be some changes that may effect you as some of our coaches and facilities will not be available to us during this holiday period. Therefore, we are only able to run sessions from two out of our four regional venues.

Both Selly Park and Sutton Coldfield Brazilian Soccer Schools will run as normal, with the exception of the bank holiday (Friday 21st, Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th) when they will be closed. The Saturday session at the Priory School in Edgbaston, on 22nd March will also be closed due to the Easter Bank Holiday.

• Arch Bishop Ilsley School is closed for two weeks, so players from Solihull/East Birmingham will be invited to attend the nearby Brazilian Soccer School at Selly Park in South Birmingham.

• Players from Handsworth are also invited to attend the BSS in Selly Park, or alternatively you can join Rob Williams at his BSS at Clifton Road in Sutton Coldfield, as BSS NW Birmingham’s coach Andrew is away on holiday.

Congratulations to Birmingham Brazilian Soccer Schools Player Fred Holtom, who has continued to progress and move through the levels of local youth football in staggering fashion this season. A regular player for Cadbury U15's, this season Fred had also represented his local District side. Then, just two months ago he was selected to join the West Midlands Team at County Level.

Fred's rapid rise has not stopped there. He has been training with Aston Villa's U15's ever since recent impressive displays in tough local derby matches against Walsall FC and Birmingham City FC. However, last Thursday Fred faced the team that he has supported all his life - the mighty Manchester United.

As an athletic 'ball-playing' defender, Fred played in two 25 minute spells against against United, helping to keep a clean sheet the whole time he was on the pitch. He even scored the first goal as Aston Villa went on to win 2:1. His Dad, Pete, said afterwards: "Needless to say, Fred came away very happy with the result and his performance." 

Brazilian Soccer School Players from all corners of the Birmingham region were in attendance during the February Half-term coaching course. The youngsters were rewarded with glorious weather throughout the entire holiday course.

The players, aged 6 - 18, used the fantastic Astro-turf pitches at Aston Manor School to work on their ball-juggling and dribbling skills, as they competed in small-sided games in the Spring sunshine. The fast wooden floor of the Sports Hall also provided the perfect surface for tournaments of the traditional South American game of Futebol de Salão.