League's new academy backed by Scholes

Former England and Manchester United midfield maestro Paul Scholes is backing the EVO-STIK League’s new NPL Football Academy.

The 39-year-old European Cup and Premier League winner, pictured, has joined a growing list of leading figures in the game backing the ground-breaking new youth league and academy which is set to become the first in English football to combine football with further education when it opens its doors to nearly 200 students in September.

Scholes, a member of the Manchester United 'Class of ‘92' consortium of Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and Gary and Phil Neville who are set to complete their takeover of First Division North Salford City before the new season kicks off, believes the concept is the "way forward" for football.

On Thursday he said: "The level and expertise of the NPL Academy League structure is very important and is the way forward linking football academies with semi-professional football clubs. It is an excellent idea to embrace the educational courses with a football programme in a full-time capacity."

He added: "The education courses are such an important part of this package and they will enable the students to focus on all areas of sport while obtaining qualifications."

Officially sanctioned by the Football Association and backed by Euromatech, the global training provider, the NPL Football Academy’s first intake of 16 to 18-year-olds will study for a BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Sport on two year courses at the eight founding EVO-STIK League clubs - Burscough, Lancaster City, Leek Town, Mickleover Sports, Mossley, Newcastle Town, Radcliffe Borough and Witton Albion.

As well as the qualifications they’ll gain to continue their studies in further education or enter the sports industry, they can look forward to working with FA licensed coaches on a daily basis, competing in the Evo-Stik NPL Youth League and playing in national competitions led by the FA Youth Cup.

As the countdown to the academy's launch continues, trials are continuing to take place as well as a series of launch nights this month at the participating clubs for prospective students and their families who’ll hear from the academy’s coaches and tutors on every aspect of the 18-20 hour per week courses.

Joe Royle, the former England striker and Manchester City, Everton, Oldham Athletic and Ipswich Town manager, echoed the comments of Scholes after the first of the launch events was successfully held at Burscough.

In April the 65-year-old former England striker handed out the accolades at the EVO-STIK League’s third annual Players of the Year Awards and he said: "Anything that combines education and sport for young people has to be applauded. Education is more important than ever in the modern world and physical fitness is so important for youngsters’ health and well being.

"If, at the end of the course, an individual achieves further qualifications and gets the chance to move up to the first team - and that becomes a launch pad to even better things - then all well and good."

NPLFA launch night schedule:
Wednesday 9th July, 7pm - Mickleover Sports FC
Monday 14th July, 7pm - Newcastle Town FC
Tuesday 15th July, 7pm - Leek Town FC
Thursday 17th July, 7pm - Radcliffe Borough FC
Monday 21st July, 7pm - Lancaster City FC
Thursday 24th July, 7pm - Witton Albion FC

For more information visit www.nplfootballacademy.co.uk or follow the NPLFA on social media at www.twitter.com/NPLFA, www.facebook.com/NPLFootballAcademy and www.instagram.com/NPLFA.