Academy set to keep on growing

Launched by the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League with the backing of the Football Association in 2014 at five pilot clubs, the ground-breaking NPLFA grew to nine clubs fielding 10 teams in the NPL Youth League at the start of the current campaign, a figure set to rise to 14 clubs by next September.

Three clubs have already applied to join next season's expanded league-wide academy structure and the NPLFA's officials are now looking to fill the two remaining berths with the admissions process for the 2016-17 intake of 16 to 18-year-old students getting underway in the run-up to Christmas.

The EVO-STIK NPL has been widely hailed for becoming the first league in English football to operate a youth league and academy combining football with further education and according to delighted officials, well over 200 students are expected to be studying by next season on two year courses for Level 3 Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) qualifications.

While studying they will also be trained on a daily basis by UEFA qualified coaches and compete in the NPL Youth League and national competitions like the FA Youth Cup.

An NPLFA spokesman confirmed: "We are accepting places for next year and having already had three applications, only two remain now for the new intake.

"The NPLFA is delighted with the progress made in such a short space of time and to have just over 185 students already involved in football and gaining an education is encouraging and proof of the success of the league's concept.

"Many plaudits have been extended to the league itself for its work and vision in establishing a new programme and indeed the clubs involved themselves for their forward thinking and understanding of the future benefits it will bring to them, on and off the pitch.

"While it is still early days, there is no doubt the quality of the programme will grow each year. Ideally, the last two new clubs need to be in place by mid-November as that is when recruitment starts this year for next September's intake."

He added: "The NPLFA would also like to thank all the football and educational establishments and partners who have become involved in this project. Their support has been invaluable and will continue to be so as we continue to grow."

The NPLFA's nine current clubs are Belper Town, Leek Town, Kidsgrove Athletic, Matlock Town, Mickleover Sports, Mossley AFC, Radcliffe Borough, Sutton Coldfield Town and Warrington Town. Witton Albion, Lancaster City and one other unnamed club have already successfully applied to join next season.

For more information or to apply to join the NPLFA, email: info@nplfa.co.uk.

Follow the academy's progress at nplfa.co.uk, twitter.com/NPLFA and at facebook.com/NPLFA

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