First play-off final to decide champs

By David Watters

The top two teams in the NPL Football Academy are looking forward to meeting at the home of EVO-STIK Northern Premier League Leek Town in the NPLFA's inaugural 'Grand Final'.

Harrison Park is set to host the champions of the NPLFA's Joma and Chryso divisions on Monday 15 May in a one off play-off to crown the 2016-17 NPLFA Champions with the winners lifting the ‘Jordan Burndred Memorial Trophy’, pictured, named last season in honour of the Leek Town NPLFA student who died aged 17 in tragic circumstances while on holiday with his family.

Free for fans to attend, the 7.30pm kick-off will be an all Derbyshire affair between Matlock Town (Blue), who secured the Joma Division on Wednesday and Mickleover Sports (Black) who wrapped up the Chyrso Division back in March.

Founded with the backing of the Football Association at five pilot clubs in September 2014 to provide career pathways into the football industry and still the only league wide academy in English football combining sport with education, the NPLFA is expanding to 13 clubs catering to more than 400 students for the 2017-18 season in September.

The NPLFA's tutors and coaches are currently recruiting their third intake of students after recent trials at all 12 NPLFA clubs for ambitious students either leaving school this summer or coming to the end of their first year in college.

Thanks to a new higher education partnership with Loughborough College, the Northern Premier League Football Academy (NPLFA) is also getting ready to offer full-time degree courses for students from September 2017.

Announced in April, the new partnership will allow youngsters currently studying with the NPLFA on BTEC courses or embarking on their courses in September, to continue their education while developing their football careers within the EVO-STIK NPL.

Students and their families are also looking forward to rounding off the current season next month at the NPLFA's inaugural cup final at Stoke City's Bet365 Stadium on Sunday 28 May.

To see the NPLFA's latest promotional videos and success stories, follow on Twitter at @NPLFA or visit: www.nplfa.co.uk.

Images courtesy of @NPLFA/Twitter

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Where next?

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