I recently went with the RIASA team to Amsterdam for a game against the Ajax youth team.

Obviously it was for football purposes only – we were told the sales were on but didn’t have any time for window shopping!

The American academy is Mark Ellis’s baby but I help out with coaching, as well as Lee Elam, who was at Bradford as a kid.

I knew Dean Gorre, one of the Ajax youth coaches, from Barnsley and he fixed up the friendly at their training ground.

What a fantastic experience for the American boys, as well as young centre half Dean Overson from City, who came along as well.

We got shown round all the facilities and told about the history of the place.

Obviously Cruyff’s involved and De Boer but Dennis Bergkamp was there that day doing his own training and Edwin Van der Sar was coaching some youngsters. It was a who’s who of Dutch football.

RIASA has been set up to provide an international marketing degree as well as football coaching. And being based at Leeds Met, they are all there on Bradford’s doorstep.

We’ve seen how well Nahki Wells is doing this season and I know for a fact one or two other managers have been impressed with him. He’s still got a lot to learn but without RIASA he wouldn’t be here now.

Likewise there are other talented players in the programme – and the best thing is Bradford get first look at them.

The big Bermuda keeper Tahj Bell is another one who’s training with City at the moment.

He’s the same size as Donovan Ricketts, possibly even bigger, and has got that presence.

His footwork is a weak point, maybe because of his size 20 feet, but he can sort that out. I think Tahj has got huge potential.

Bradford are in a good position because of the links with Mark, myself and Dave Baldwin. Hopefully they can tap into that.