The 12 team event is taking place at Warwick University from Friday to Sunday and will see teams from English professional teams Liverpool, Chelsea & Manchester City as well as European giants PSV Eindhoven & Real Madrid competing in a very prestigious tournament with the stars of the future on show.
The tournament forms the middle stage of the Premier League's Youth Development phase of the Performance Pathway, for the U12 to U16 age group. This phase focuses on helping the players make the transition to 11 v 11 matches, tournament football and pitching the best players against each other. To allow players space to develop and progress, the U15 programme puts on tournaments and festivals rather than a league schedule.
Stuart Kneen has been officiating on the Isle of Man for just 3 years but has already been promoted to his current level 5.
IOM FA Referee Development Officer Tommy Crowe commented: "I am delighted that we have been given this opportunity to appoint Stuart Kneen to this tournament. Opportunities like this are once again another example of our local referees gaining the coaching experience to improve and once again raise the standards of our local officials.
"Stuart has earned the right to be appointed to this tournament and I am certain will help him move on to be one of the best officials the IOM have."
IOM FA Chief Executive Frank Stennett added: "To be one of the appointed referees in a tournament of this calibre reflects all the considerable work and effort from all our IOM Referees who are so important to our game here on the Island. The Premier League teams taking part are very attractive in their own right and to then add in Under 15 teams from the likes of Hertha Berlin, PSV Eindhoven and Real Madrid makes this tournament at Warwick University so appealing to both players and spectators alike.
"Congratulations to Stuart Kneen who has worked extremely hard to develop his skills at every game he has been appointed to. I would confirm that Stuart carries the very best of wishes from all at the Isle of Man Football Association for this prestigious tournament and his future involvement in officiating games on the Isle of Man."
We all wish Stuart the very best of luck this weekend and we look forward to hearing how he gets on!
