The British Soccer Camp from Challenger Sports opened on Monday with several Beeville youngsters taking advantage of the knowledge and skills from coach Sam Haines from the United Kingdom, or “UK” as he says.

Haines is a 19-year-old from Blackpool, England, which is about a half hour outside of Liverpool. Haines began playing soccer when he was six and has progressed steadily through the ranks of British soccer ever since, playing for the Premier League the last two years. His soccer background is extensive.

“It’s my first time here and it’s great. I really like it hot,” Haines said somewhat sheepishly.

Haines is joined by a Texas native from Temple, Benito Alcozer, who is in his second year of work with Challenger Sports. Alcozer has college soccer-playing experience. He also has a good deal of coaching experience, having coached an elite Cen-Tex soccer club out of the Temple area.

The camp has the Beeville youngsters working on the fundamentals of soccer, dribbling passing and teamwork.

The camp runs through Thursday and meets at the Beeville Soccer Club fields beside the Beeville Boys & Girls Club in the mornings and evenings.