Football Canberra will be flying over from down under to test their skills in a series of matches.

The group of 20 players, aged 16 to 18, will be based at the Bolton Stadium Hotel for the duration of the tour.

The tour has been organised by Ian Worthington, a football coach with a career spanning 30 years.

Mr Worthington holds the UEFA A-Licence and has had a successful coaching career with Manchester City, Bolton Wanderers, and Burnley.

He has enabled several young players to turn professional and international.

Mr Worthington said: “Nowhere else in Australia will these boys get the opportunity to have a realistic appraisal of their ability as a player, to play against their peers that are at the level they want to be at and be surrounded by highly qualified professional staff who are all experts in their field.”

The young footballers will get to test themselves against Bury, Marine, Fleetwood Town, and Nantwich Town over the course of 10 days.

They will live, train, and play like a professional team during their time in the UK.

Mr Worthington said: “This trip has been designed from start to finish by myself and my wife, as business owners, and is tailored to make sure that the players get the best opportunity to prepare for matches and showcase their abilities.”

The twenty players aged 16 to 18 will be based at the Bolton Wanderers Stadium Hotel (Image: Supplied)

In addition to the matches, the group will also get the chance to experience live football by attending fixtures including the Premier League match between Manchester United and Southampton, the FA Cup tie between Manchester City and Salford City, and the League One clash between Bolton Wanderers and Cambridge United.

Mr Worthington said: “Football Canberra is dedicated to being immersed in a holistic approach to football player and coach development.

“This tour aligns with our core values, to deliver knowledge and expertise, guiding people along their football journey, through a multitude of pathways.”

The tour is part of Football Canberra’s commitment to youth development in football and will allow the players to shine in front of potential future coaches.

A second group of young male footballers will return in 2026, alongside the first complement of Football Canberra female footballers, aged 18 to 21.

Mr Worthington said “Football Canberra always aims to be transparent, authentic, and realistic towards goals and expectations.

“We are certainly interested in hearing from any clubs, at any level, who would like to be part of our fixture list for our January 2026 tour and would welcome any inquiries.”