STEP 6 club Southall have formed one of the strangest partnerships in world football – with ten-time Spanish champions Atletico Madrid!
Under the deal with the European giants, coaches from Atletico will work with Southall players. The west London club finished mid-table last season in the Spartan South Midlands Division One.
Southall, formed back in 1871, have not won any silverware since their Middlesex Senior Charity Cup success in 1984. Madrid, meanwhile, were La Liga champions and Champions League runners-up just two years ago.
Atletico are hoping to help Southall's aim of developing British Asian footballers with a number of social inclusion projects in the surrounding area.
The fairytale link was achieved thanks to Southall owner Channa Singh Gill's business links in Spain.
Gill told the Evening Standard: “For a little club like ours to be connected with one of the world's most famous football names is amazing. Who would believe it? This is a fantastic opportunity for our players and coaches to learn from the best in the business.
“Some of Atletico's star names could be coming to Southall in the near future. If this doesn't get local youngsters interested in football then I don't know what will.”
Director general of the Atletico Madrid Foundation, German Robles Gonzalez, visited Southall last week and said: “You might think this is a very odd marriage but Atletico is a very forward-thinking club and we work with different partners all over the world.
“I have had a wonderful time in Southall, it has been an extraordinary experience. We believe there is a huge potential for football in this area and I hope that our work is the start of something good.”
