A football lover is hoping to bring some Italian style and panache to North Herts. Gary Wilson from Stevenage has been a fan of the Italian Serie A giants AC Milan since the late 1980s and is a committed season ticket holder at the San Siro. And now the 2

A football lover is hoping to bring some Italian style and panache to North Herts.

Gary Wilson from Stevenage has been a fan of the Italian Serie A giants AC Milan since the late 1980s and is a committed season ticket holder at the San Siro.

And now the 28-year-old, who works in GE Life in Hitchin, wants to establish a junior soccer camp in Hertfordshire based on the principles of his Italian favourites.

Wilson explained: "I just love football and have seen the potential of the junior camp in Milan.

"The link is obvious as football is huge in this country and AC Milan are one of the biggest clubs in the world."

The main training camp of AC Milan attracts 200 kids from 26 countries such as Germany, Brazil and all over Scandinavia to Italy.

Wilson wants to establish a smaller regional training camp locally for both English, Italian and also German youngsters.

The seven-day residential camp would be for eight to 10-year-olds in holiday periods and could involve both the expertise of North Hertfordshire College and Stevenage Boro.

The course would involve football training mixed with academic studies including the likes of languages and other topics like nutrition.

Wilson said: "I'm looking to establish one in England and obviously I know the local area well.

"We would be helping to develop kids locally and I can only see positives from it.

"The scheme wouldn't be taking anything away from local clubs especially Stevenage Boro.

"I see it as a very realistic scheme although there are issues like accommodation to sort out for the boys.

"I will also need local clubs and local businesses to get involved in the setting up of the scheme."

Wilson recently went on a fact-finding mission to Milan to see how their main training camp operates.

He said: "How they did things was very different to how I've seen before and the enthusiasm of the kids from all over the world was great to see."

Wilson recently became a level one coach and is a keen player himself.

He plays for AFC Santos in the North and Mid Herts Football League on Saturdays as well as Granby St George in The Comet Stevenage Sunday Football League.

The start of the next school summer holidays in July 2007 is seen as a viable start to the scheme locally.

Any local coaches, sponsors or people that want to contribute any help or expertise or a facility should email acmilanjuniorcampuk@hotmail.co.uk