Les Alicourts resort Pierrefitte, The Loire Valley, France

It's 10.30am and touching 30 degrees centigrade as he eagerly dons his Brazil kit and strides out onto the luscious green training pitch to meet Mark and Andrew, two FA qualified coaches on loan from Bolton Wanderers' International Academy. Then it's off to meet his team-mates, who all turn out to be from Holland. Talk on the touchline is that one of them attends Feyenoord's junior football school, despite being only six! This could be a baptism of fire for the boy from Blighty. But George need not have feared. He's in the first class of the day for five to eight-year-olds (classes follow for those aged nine to 12, and 13 to 17) so he's not out of his depth, and Mark and Andrew are patient with kids of all ability. The emphasis here is on fun, with a measure of serious concentration thrown in, of course. There's 20 minutes of close ball-work to begin with  using both feet please George! - before cones are laid out as the boys take a well-earned water break (a regular feature throughout the sessions as the sun beats down). Then it's running and passing, with each boy taking their turn to find the player opposite before doubling back. It looks complicated from the sidelines, but George has no problems holding his own against European opposition. Total Football all the way! Now it gets serious as the boys take each other on, one on one. George is beaten by a shimmy from a young Cruyff, but he's not deterred and is delighted to team up with his new friend as they go two on two.

Mark and Andrew have their work cut out explaining the boys must dribble across the goal-line not shoot to score in this game, but the idea soon sinks in and the youngsters realise this is about keeping hold of the ball and using it effectively in a tight space. The impressive-looking first-aid bag is not required as one boy recovers quickly from some traditional English defending meted out by George, before another water break (this time poured directly over sweaty heads) precedes weaving in and out of cones with the ball at speed. Then it's the highlight of the day, with George teaming up with Tim in the Ajax shirt to take on the Cruyff brothers, resplendent in their Barca kits. True to form, a sound 4-0 beating follows but George is delighted with his certificate and a Reebok t-shirt, plus another dousing from the water bottle, as the action comes to an end. Best of all, it's straight down the slides into the pool with his big sister, who's saddle sore after a pony trek with Mum through the forest - while Dad visits the lakeside beach bar for a cold post-match beer. Some things never change. George and his family stayed with Thomson Al Fresco Parc des Alicourts, near Pierrefitte-sur-Sauldre, Loire. 7 nights for a family of 2 adults and up to 4 children sharing a Vivaldi luxury mobile home costs only £849, for arrivals between the 14- 17 August.

You can contact the friendly people at Thomson Al Fresco on 0871 231 3292 (calls cost 10o per minute plus network extras) or click www.thomsonalfresco.co.uk

The Reebok International Soccer School for boys and girls is run by FA qualified coaches at Parc Des Alicourts, Loire and at La Croix Du Vieux Pont, Champagne. Sessions specific for five to eight-year-olds, nine to 12-year-olds and 13 to 17-year-olds run until August 31, 2008. Limited availability, which can be booked with the Thomson Al Fresco rep on site or by ringing 0871 231 3293 (calls cost 10o per minute plus network extras). Intro session 90-minutes only £10 per child or two 90-minute sessions cost £30 per child including an Academy t-shirt