IT WAS the stuff of dreams for Isle of Wight youngster Charlie Hart when he stepped on to the famous Bernabeu pitch — the home of Real Madrid.

It was just reward for the 12-year-old Ryde School pupil, who earned the right to play in one the world’s top stadiums after impressing Real’s youth academy coaching team at a week-long training camp in Cowes, followed by an all-important selection day at Charlton Athletic.

Isle of Wight County Press: Charlie Hart in his new Real Madrid kit in the first team's changing room.Charlie Hart in his new Real Madrid kit in the first team's changing room.

Charlie, one of a select group of hopefuls coached and scrutinised by the Real coaches last year, spent an amazing few days in the Spanish capital.

An Arsenal fan, Charlie comes from a great sporting family, with England and Kent cricketer Sam Billings his second cousin and godfather.

During his short stay in Madrid, midfielder Charlie got to play in a 20-minute nine-a-side match with his young counterparts from around Europe, inside the 82,000-seat Bernabeu.

After changing into a brand new kit and boots supplied by Adidas, in the first team’s changing room, he stepped out onto the hallowed turf for a warm-up and shooting practice, to say he had scored in the Bernabeu.

The following day, the Shalfleet youngster continued his football education, under the watchful eye of the Spanish giant’s youth coaches, at Real’s 400-acre Cuidad training complex — the best of its kind on the planet.

With him there were family, including his parents, and Paul Marshall, of Isle of Wight Community Sports Coaching, who now works for Real’s Clinic Foundacion.

Charlie said: “Playing in the Bernabeu was an amazing experience — great to play football with people of many different nationalities, even though we couldn’t speak one another’s languages.”

  • There are just a few places left on the best football coaching course for children ever brought to the Island — run as part of the Real Madrid youth academy set-up.

Starting on Monday, August 19, the five-day soccer course will be run by a team of top European coaches, in association with Isle of Wight Community Sports Coaching’s Paul Marshall, one of the academy coaches, at the Isle of Wight Community Club, Cowes.

Isle of Wight County Press: A Real Madrid youth soccer academy coach taking Island youngsters through their paces in one of the training sessions on last year’s programme, held at the Isle of Wight Community Club, Cowes.A Real Madrid youth soccer academy coach taking Island youngsters through their paces in one of the training sessions on last year’s programme, held at the Isle of Wight Community Club, Cowes.

So far, 96 of the 102 places on the programme have been filled.

Budding Cristiano Ronaldos, aged seven to 15 years, will be taken through the most advanced training regime imaginable, which includes eating nutritional meals — fast food kicked firmly into touch.

Last year, the programme sold out in less than a day.

The week will end in a graduation ceremony, with one lucky child selected for a final assessment day and a possible trip to play in the Bernabeu stadium — as Charlie did.

Last year, Real Madrid academy coach, Georgi Sivkov, was impressed by how Island children responded to the training regime.