Academy stars were crowned first at champions!

By David Watters

NPL Football Academy

After winning the NPL Football Academy's inaugural championship with a game to go last week, the stars of the future at Mickleover Sports were the first to be crowned at the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League's First Division South champions.

Before confirming the title and promotion to the EVO-STIK NPL's top flight with a 3-2 win at Lincoln United on Saturday, the club's NPLFA student players collected their silverware, pictured, before being held to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday by Radcliffe Borough in their final fixture of the NPL Youth League campaign.

The failure of Romulus to beat Radcliffe Borough two weeks ago handed the title to Sports who were denied a win in their first game as champions by a last minute Jordan Hodkinson equaliser.

Watched by a healthy crowd of parents, the champions got off to a great start when Harry Hughes latched onto a defensive error and slotted past Craig Taylor in the Radcliffe goal with ease.

With time running out following an even affair after the goal, Boro academy manager Pete Lofthouse pushed centre-half Jordan Hodkinson up front and he burst through the Sports defence to tuck away his finish past Jack Tolley.

That didn't dampen the celebrations that followed as students, coaching staff and parents celebrated the title win on the pitch. To watch the match highlights and interviews follow this link:

In the other fixture on matchday 22, Leek Town played hosts to Romulus who romped to an 8-2 victory.

First half goals from Rami Tekle, Sutomar Campbell and Donashane Peterson gave The Roms a commanding 4-1 half-time lead, George Swaine having scored for the home side.

It was the same scoreline in the second half as Tekle and Campbell both grabbed another goal, along with a brace from Ronan Sheenan and a second from Swaine as The Roms took the three points back to Birmingham and secured the runners-up spot in the NPL Youth League.

* The EVO-STIK Northern Premier League is the first league in English football to launch a youth league and academy combining football with further education.

The NPLFA opened its doors to its first intake of students in September 2014 at five pilot clubs - Leek Town, Mickleover Sports, Newcastle Town, Radcliffe Borough and Romulus - after being officially sanctioned by the Football Association last May.

The initial pilot programme has seen up to 20 students aged 16-18 studying for a BTEC Level 3 in Sport on two year courses at each club while working with FA licensed coaches on a daily basis. As well as competing in the new EVO-STIK NPL Youth League, they've also played in national competitions led by the FA Youth Cup.

Since the start of the current campaign eight more clubs - Kidsgrove Athletic, Halesowen Town, Matlock Town, Mossley AFC, Belper Town, Lancaster City and Witton Albion - have already signed up to join the NPLFA next season.

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

NPL Youth League Results 15.04.15

Mickleover Sports 1
Goals: Harry Hughes 6
Team: Tolley, Amiri, Cronin, Hussein, Sanderson, Tickner, Tompkinson, Buxton, Hughes, Haidary, Ward.
Subs: Jones, Alldread, Smith, Samuels.

Radcliffe Borough 1
Goals: Jordan Hodkinson 90
Team: Taylor, Hayes, McCarthy-Brooks, Hodkinson, Brennan, Daniels, Livesey, Henshall, Bennett, Oldroyd, Williams.
Subs: Brown, Qiasi.

...........................................

Leek Town 2
Goals: Swaine 22, 53
Team: Faulkner, Bestwick, Law, Machin, Burndred, Hal, Simms, Knight, Swaine, Shufflebotham, Parkes.
Subs: Cope.

Romulus 8
Goals: Sutomar Campell 7, 42, 78, Rami Tekle 11, 66, Donashane Peterson 45, Ronan Sheenan 55, 90
Team: Jones, Goldsmith, Murchington, Toure, McLoughlin, Tekle, Sheenan, Mpoyi, Campell, Pitt, McDonald-Taylor.
Subs: Peterson, Bell, Newman.

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

Where next?

England boss honours the stars of the season EVO-STIK NPL 2015 Players of the Year Awards
Saturday's Premier Division action review EVO-STIK NPL First Division South

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