User:Mrjust21

Cycad Sports Management is the parent company, and the driving force, behind the NextGen Series, for the elite youth players of Europe being launched in August 2011, with sixteen of the world’s best known clubs competing in 48 matches through to the finals in January 2012.

The company was founded last year by Mark Warburton and Justin Andrews, who between them have vast experience in both coaching and media and who have established a series of high level contacts across the football world.

The objective of Cycad is to deliver a tournament for the “best of the best” to provide players with vital experience travelling abroad to play matches, to being challenged by new styles of play and even dealing with the media. The objective of the NextGen Series is to provide a cognitive learning environment for players to experience how best to cope with the pressures of top level football. Backroom staff including medical, conditioning as well as the coaches themselves will benefit from the experience, whilst leading referees will oversee all 48 games up to the finals mentoring up and coming officials in the process.

Warburton is a former city trader who has also played a significant part in UK football, having been the Academy Manager of Watford Football Club. He set up the Harefield Academy, a renowned dedicated football school and the first of its kind in the UK. A former professional footballer, he is respected within the game and provides genuine credibility to the football side of the business.

Andrews is a media professional and TV producer with many years of experience in the sports media sector working with clients such as Endemol and Sky.

They have both worked closely with a number of Europe’s top football clubs and identified the need for a tournament that more appropriately bridges the gap between youth team and the first team squad.

After raising finance from private investors, the duo began the process of bringing top clubs across Europe on board. Eighteen months on and contracts have now been agreed with sixteen leading clubs for the first ever NextGen Series which kicks off a six month knockout tournament culminating in the finals in January 2012.