Academic partnership passing manager's test

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Trafford are hailing the success of their new academic partnership and urging more young players to sign up for next season’s intake.

Launched this season after the Premier Division club teamed up with the Wellacre Academy last year, the scheme has already led to a number of youngsters breaking into Trafford manager Garry Vaughan’s first team squad with more tipped to follow before the end of the campaign.

The full-time scholarships for school leavers has seen them studying for FA coaching qualifications, a BTEC Diploma in Sports Level 3 - the equivalent of two A Levels - plus one other chosen subject.

Students have been playing weekly in the English Colleges League while being trained and coached by Vaughan and his staff who are delighted with the progress of the current crop of scholars who are riding high in their league campaign.

Vaughan, pictured, said: "My message to any boy leaving high school within our catchment area would be to get in touch and look seriously at Wellacre for their next step and chance to develop their football and educational futures.

"We entered into the partnership with a view to supporting Wellacre with the provision of coaching and sharing of facilities and there are a number of players who have shown very good ability.

"Both Louis James and Clevon Beadle have been with us at varying parts of our season and there are at least two to three others who we hope to see in our first team before the season ends."

Vaughan led efforts to build on the club's existing schools community programmes to launch the partnership and he added: "Clevon has recently claimed the right-back spot and along with two other 17-year-olds, goalkeeper Kieron O’Hara and left-back Luke Heron, have formed a very good back four for us.

"Not only does it show us that our future looks good but it also shows other young players that if they are good enough and have the right attitude, then we will certainly give them every encouragement to progress."

For more information on enrolling for next season’s intake, potential scholars should email: aglover@wellacre.org.