This week in 'Five for Friday', Soccer Banter spoke with Ciaran McArdle, Director and Co-Founder of XL Travel. McArdle, originally from England, first came to the United States in 1996 to work summer camps for Play Soccer. In 2001, he founded XL Soccer Tours which is now based in Orlando, Florida. Follow XL Soccer Tours on Twitter: @xltravel
Soccer Banter: What is XL Travel?
Ciaran McArdle: XL Travel aka XL Soccer Tours provides customized, professional and safe International soccer tour packages for teams and fans that wish to "See the world through soccer".
SB: What are the benefits of going on an international tour?
CM: I cant think of a better way to see the World than with your teammates and family, playing games against International competition, seeing live games and experiencing some of the World's oldest sights. Imagine playing a game in the morning, seeing the Roman Colosseum in the afternoon and then going to a Champions League game at the Olympic stadium in the evening…that’s not a bad day!
SB: What is your own background in the game of soccer?
CM: The older I get, the better I used to be! I played at College in England and then came over to the USA to coach. I never played at a high level, which was one of the motivations for starting XL Travel. We wanted to create a company where not just professional players get to go on professional tours, but they would be available for everyone.
SB: What is your most memorable moment involved with XL travel?
CM: It would have to be when we had over 150 players and their families at Old Trafford for the Man Utd v Roma game in the Champions League quarterfinal. United were behind form the first leg and ended up winning 7-1 on the night. It was an incredible atmosphere and the sort of lifetime experience that nobody in that group will ever forget.
SB: Take away your role with XL travel...what would be your dream international tour as a fan of the game?
CM: As a fan, I would love to do a five game trip where I would start by watching a live game from League 2 then League 1, the Championship, the Premiership and finally the Champions League. What a great trip that would be seeing the different levels of soccer and experiencing the different atmospheres of those games.
Soccer Banter: What is XL Travel?
Ciaran McArdle: XL Travel aka XL Soccer Tours provides customized, professional and safe International soccer tour packages for teams and fans that wish to "See the world through soccer".
SB: What are the benefits of going on an international tour?
CM: I cant think of a better way to see the World than with your teammates and family, playing games against International competition, seeing live games and experiencing some of the World's oldest sights. Imagine playing a game in the morning, seeing the Roman Colosseum in the afternoon and then going to a Champions League game at the Olympic stadium in the evening…that’s not a bad day!
SB: What is your own background in the game of soccer?
CM: The older I get, the better I used to be! I played at College in England and then came over to the USA to coach. I never played at a high level, which was one of the motivations for starting XL Travel. We wanted to create a company where not just professional players get to go on professional tours, but they would be available for everyone.
SB: What is your most memorable moment involved with XL travel?
CM: It would have to be when we had over 150 players and their families at Old Trafford for the Man Utd v Roma game in the Champions League quarterfinal. United were behind form the first leg and ended up winning 7-1 on the night. It was an incredible atmosphere and the sort of lifetime experience that nobody in that group will ever forget.
SB: Take away your role with XL travel...what would be your dream international tour as a fan of the game?
CM: As a fan, I would love to do a five game trip where I would start by watching a live game from League 2 then League 1, the Championship, the Premiership and finally the Champions League. What a great trip that would be seeing the different levels of soccer and experiencing the different atmospheres of those games.
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