A TRIP to the UK for a match against Brighton & Hove Albion next month is just the latest step for the fast-growing Aztec Soccer Academy.

Founded in 2009 by former Priaulx League and island players Rob Jones and Darren Le Tissier, it originally provided extra training sessions for the island’s most talented Year 3 players, which has now grown to incorporate three age groups, up to Year 5.

It is they who will travel to the English south coast in the new year to take on the Npower Championship club’s Year 4 academy team, which follows on the back of last year’s similar visit to Southampton.

Aztec runs in conjunction with the minis sections of the seven local GFA clubs, with the selected players in each age group training weekly throughout the season, on top of their club training.