Academy entry hailed by latest recruits

Lancaster City's officials have described their decision to join the new NPL Football Academy as a "massive boost" to the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League club's development programme.

The Dolly Blues were unveiled on Wednesday as the second new club this season to sign up to ground-breaking new initiative which was launched in September with the backing of the Football Association.

The EVO-STIK NPL became the first league in English football to launch a youth league and academy combining football with further education 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.

Premier Division Witton Albion signed up for the next academic year in October and City's students will now be competing alongside them next season 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.

Lancaster City chairman Stuart Houghton is pictured signing the formal agreement to join the academy with NPLFA recruitment director Danny Johnson at Lancaster University where the up to 20 students aged 16-18 will study for Level 3 Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) qualifications in partnership with the university and tutors from Manchester College.

Hailing their entry into the NPLFA, a City spokesman said: "This represents a massive boost to the club’s development programme and moves the club into the academic and football education arena. Crucially, the club have set up a partnership with Lancaster University to provide excellent facilities for the students within a superb learning environment.

"While the students may be more concerned with football and the top class coaching, their parents are sure to be reassured by the equally important academic quality of the course.

"The challenge will be to make sure as many prospective students are aware of this fabulous opportunity, so an awareness campaign will be kicking off this week among local youth leagues and schools, with a view to having the first trials as soon as practicable."

A NPLFA spokesman said: "We are delighted that Lancaster City has become the second new club since the season started after Witton Albion to confirm that they are joining the NPL Football Academy and that the programme will based at the magnificent Lancaster University where students will study and train using the complex's fantastic facilities."

He added: "Its great news and we welcome all at Lancaster to the our ground-breaking and unique academy, the only one of its kind in English football."

Earlier this week the NPLFA's coaches congratulated Romulus teenager Yohan Rutty-Smith on becoming the first student to graduate to first team football for an EVO-STIK Northern Premier League club.

The 16-year-old joined the new Roms Academy in the NPLFA this September after already being part of the youth set-up at the First Division South club and made his debut in their 3-0 Doodson Sport Cup first round defeat at home to Sutton Coldfield Town.

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.

Pictured, left to right, Lancaster City vice-chairman Mark Knight, club academy liaison officer Tony Cragg, chairman Stuart Houghton, NPLFA recruitment director Danny Johnson, Dolly Blues manager Darren Peacock and Kim Montgomery, head of sport at Lancaster University.

Follow us: @evostikleague on Twitter | The NPL group on Facebook by clicking here: www.facebook.com/groups/TheNPL/