Schools launch offers fresh boost

Trafford are launching a new 'After School Football and Sports Club' to build on the success of their current school holiday camps and give their growing community links another boost before the start of a new academic partnership.

The Evo-Stik NPL First Division North club announced in January that they were teaming up with Flixton’s Wellacre Sixth Form College next season to launch new football scholarships for 16 to 18-year-olds. Now they're hoping to engage with children as young as five after announcing plans to support nearby primary schools during term time from mid April onwards.

With their oversubscribed GV Soccer Community Programme having to add an extra week to their current Easter camps for juniors at Shawe View, Trafford manager Garry Vaughan says he's now looking forward to working with every age group in their local community up to and including school leavers.

Vaughan said: "This is another step in the right direction for us as we aim to strengthen not just our links with primary schools but also the general community of Trafford. Along with the GV Soccer Schools and Wellacre partnership, we now are engaging with children from a very young age right up to school leavers. The soccer schools are now getting established and the Easter Soccer camp has been so well subscribed we've had to add a second week to cover the demand!"

Trafford are currently recruiting scholars for the college partnership which offers full-time scholarships to boys and will see them study for FA coaching qualifications, a BTEC Diploma in Sports Level 3 - the equivalent of two A Levels - plus one other chosen subject. Students will receive more than ten hours a week coaching in college as well as a further three hours with Trafford at Shawe View.

They'll play weekly in the English Colleges League, get the chance to earn representative honours for Greater Manchester and England Colleges and also go on to form the basis of Trafford FC's Under 21 Development squad.