Coach earns his own graduation

The former Premier League footballer and Blackburn Rovers U15 Academy coach, pictured, was the first ever academy manager at the EVO-STIK NPL First Division North champions and leaves with the best wishes of both the club and the NPLFA.

Appointed at Cantilever Park in September 2015, Chadwick oversaw the development of the first year students currently on the unique two year education and football programme at the Cheshire club.

An NPLFA spokesman said: “Nick has been excellent throughout his involvement in the NPL Football Academy. He was well respected by his players and fellow coaches in the programme.

"We are sad to see him depart but are excited that he has been given the opportunity to work at such a level and at a fantastic football club where we are sure he will be a huge success."

"It is very satisfying to see both coaches and players move on in the football world, which along with the educational qualifications on offer is what this programme is all about."

Chadwick was not only in charge of the Warrington Town Academy, he was also the NPLFA's first ever Inter-League team manager and guided the representative side to an impressive 2-0 victory over Oldham Athletic's academy stars in May.

Chadwick said: “I have really enjoyed my time at Warrington Town, they are such a progressive club. I would like to thank everyone and wish Warrington and the NPLFA the best of luck in the future.

"The whole concept of the programme is fantastic and it is growing from strength to strength. The quality will continue to rise each year and clubs at this level can really benefit from being involved it’s unique and more and more young players are recognising this.”

Warrington Town chairman Toby Macormac paid tribute to Chadwick as the EVO-STIK NPL First Division North champions prepared to kick off in the top flight next season for the first time following their promotion.

Macormac said: “We are sad to lose Nick, his work with our students last season and the new recruits for next year was fantastic and his professional approach to everything has given us an Academy to build on.

"I know he was looking forward to working with the squad next season with a new group who are very promising but the opportunity to progress to Wigan is one that is too good for Nick to turn down in the development of his coaching career, we all wish him well.”

* 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 in September 2014.

Since its successful launch at five pilot clubs with the backing of the Football Association, the NPLFA has more than doubled in size. Providing career pathways into the football industry, students aged 16-18 who win a place with the NPLFA study on two year courses for Level 3 Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) qualifications.

While studying, they compete in the NPL Youth League, the academy's own FA sanctioned competition won last season for the second time by Mickleover Sports. They also play in national competitions like the FA Youth Cup while being trained on a daily basis by UEFA qualified coaches.

The NPL Football Academy has also entered into a strategic partnership with the world’s leading provider of sports scholarships that should soon see students playing and coaching in the United States while linking up with German giants Bayern Munich.

The NPLFA announced last summer that it was teaming up with Soccer Chance USA, specialists in innovative soccer scholarships for UK students and the UK arm of Global Premier Soccer. GPS, a large US soccer business with many thousands of players in its system, is also the official partner to FC Bayern Munich in North America.

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