Race to join inaugural intake is underway

The race to earn a place among the first two hundred students at the new NPL Football Academy is underway and hotting up.

Unveiled in April by the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League as the first in English football to combine football with further education, The NPL Football Academy welcomes its inaugural intake of young players hoping to forge careers in football and the wider sports industry in September.

The first trials at the ten clubs taking 20 students each took place last week and officials have now confirmed a further series of trial dates for youngsters hoping to study on the two year programme for a BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Sport while playing in the NPL Football Academy League - the only semi-professional academy league in the country.

Radcliffe Borough, Mickleover Sports, Leek and Lancaster City are among the clubs who’ve now held their first trials. Dolly Blues manager Darren Peacock is pictured with a number of the youngsters hoping to earn one of the places at the Giant Axe for 16 to 18-year-olds which are being officially sanctioned by the Football Association and backed by Euromatech, the global training provider run by Marwan Koukash, the owner of the Salford Red Devils.

The initiative, which is running alongside existing youth set-ups at Evo-Stik NPL clubs, is expected to double in size the following season and will be regionalised with students learning and training on site with FA licensed coaches for 18-20 hours per week.

Confirmed trial dates:
Mossley AFC - Tuesday 27 May, 6.15pm.
Lancaster City - Saturday 31 May, 10am.
Radcliffe Borough FC - Thursday 5 June, 6pm.
Mickleover Sports FC - Tuesday 10 June, 6.30pm.
Newcastle Town - Tuesday 10 June, 6.30pm.

Potential candidates can register their interest or find out more at: www.nplfootballacademy.co.uk. They can also keep up-to-date with the latest news and developments over the summer on Twitter by following @nplfa or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NPLFootballAcademy.