Academy clubs registering next year's intake

More than a hundred prospective students attended a series of 'information evenings' at the Northern Premier League Football Academy in the run-up to Christmas as interest in ground-breaking initiative continues to grow.

The last of six events for students and their families took place last week at Leek Town's Harrison Park, pictured, and followed previous meetings in December at Newcastle Town, Witton Albion, Radcliffe Borough, Mickleover Sports and Lancaster City.

All of the remaining NPLFA clubs are now looking forward to hosting their own events in the New Year with Belper Town, the NPLFA's newest club after signing up for next season in November, holding theirs at Christchurch Meadow on Monday 19 January.

An NPLFA spokesman said: "We are delighted with the response so far, this month has given us the first opportunity to present the programme to next years intakes and their parents/guardians and the feedback from all the events has been fantastic.

"We have over 100 youngsters at the six clubs to have had their 'Information Evening' register an interest with us and we are looking forward to building our database further over the next nine months."

The EVO-STIK NPL became the first league in English football to launch a youth league and academy combining football with further education in September when the NPLFA opened its doors to its first intake of students at five pilot clubs - Leek Town, Mickleover Sports, Newcastle Town, Radcliffe Borough and Romulus.

Since the start of the campaign, Lancaster City, Witton Albion and Belper Town have signed up to join their ranks next season.

Students aged 16-18 who've attended the information events have heard how they will compete in the EVO-STIK NPL Youth League, the academy's own FA sanctioned competition, while being trained on a daily basis by UEFA ‘B’ qualified coaches.

Academically, students aged 16-18 who win a place on the two year courses study for Level 3 Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) qualifications which offer a number of career pathways into the football industry.

Follow the new academy's progress at nplfa.co.uk, twitter.com/NPLFA and at facebook.com/NPLFootballAcademy. To register your please go to: www.nplfootballacademy.co.uk.

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