South Shields FC International Academy Partnership - London Mielnik Takes Off

London Mielnik is the first student/athlete from the Odyssey Soccer International programme to secure a pathway to one of our flagship partners - South Shields FC International Academy (SSFC) in August 2024. The Odyssey programme is a strategic project with our primary business partner White Glove Goal Keeping (WGG) in Florida, USA.

London was a member of the inaugural WGG tour to Liverpool in March 2024 and had such a great time that he decided to take the alternate pathway to NCAA college soccer and be one of the first participants on SSFC’s undergraduate degree and elite football programme. London will be undertaking a BSc Sport and Exercise Science degree at the UK ranked #33 University of Sunderland and competing in SSFC’ s international academy U19s and U23s. In addition to this he will be playing non-league football.

Unfortunately, this summer (2024), London had a major knee meniscus injury, which required surgery. However, he showed the mentality of one determined to succeed in football, by not deferring to 2025 and coming over this year to start his degree and complete his rehabilitation with the club’s world class strength & conditioning partner - Martin Nugent Performance.

London has the fortune of being eligible to play professionally in 4 countries (USA; England; Australia; Germany) and both Pat Johnston and I will be pushing him to infinity and beyond to fulfil his potential, which is genetic, as his mum Jennifer was an elite Volleyball player and made sure London used that sport to enhance his goalkeeping armoury.