This week the inspiresport and St Mirren 'Train and Play' programme went full circle as we welcomed Belfast Metropolitan College to the St Mirren Academy for a second time.
Belfast Met were the first group to visit St Mirren with inspiresport back in 2016 and enjoyed their trip so much back then that they decided to visit again.
On their arrival at the academy on Monday they were met by St Mirren chairman Gordon Scott, manager Oran Kearney, captain Stephen McGinn and chief executive Tony Fitzpatrick. They watched the St Mirren Reserves defeat Ross County 3-0 in the SPFL Reserve League before receiving a VIP tour of the Simple Digital Arena with Tony.
On Tuesday they had two high quality training sessions with Academy coach Sam Mawuena and enjoyed a competitive game against an SYFA West region side.
Stephen Small, Football Coordinator for Belfast Metropolitan College, said: "We had such a good visit a couple of years ago to St Mirren that when we were thinking of another tour there was only one place we were going and that was back to St Mirren.
"To have the chairman, manager, captain and chief executive meet you says what a wonderful family club St Mirren are. Sam put on two wonderful sessions and Tony really inspired the students with his tour and passion for the club."
Jed McCabe of inspiresport said: "Having Belfast Metropolitan College return to St Mirren shows we are getting it right and our philosophy is working.
"My job is to get the name of this wonderful club to the world and get as many people as possible to visit. Not just for a one of visit but to return time and again."
Tony Fitzpatrick said: "This is truly humbling to welcome Belfast Metropolitan college back as when we started this programme we were not sure how it would go.
"To have over 500 players and parent’s from different countries visit and now groups coming back for a second time shows we have something special happening."
