Scouts lined up to serve every club

Thanks to a new partnership unveiled today with the Professional Football Scouts Association (PFSA) until the end of the 2017-18 campaign, all 68 clubs now have free access to a new pilot project offering the expertise of trained professionals and a level of resources normally the preserve of the professional game.

A number of clubs have already benefitted in early trials of the new initiative by requesting the skills of a scout for match analysis and player profiling via a dedicated portal that has been set up on the PFSA website for the EVO-STIK NPL.

The PFSA is a not-for-profit organisation founded by two Premier League scouts in 2013 to work with governing bodies and leagues at all levels around the world to promote best practice and the raising of professional standards. They, and the NPL, are looking forward to a win-win relationship for all parties with their newly qualified scouts gaining practical experience before employment in the football industry.

With head offices in the heart of Lancashire, the PFSA are now aiming to build a successful long term partnership with the EVO-STIK NPL while helping clubs to boost their fortunes by finding better players for their own sides and producing even more star graduates for the pro game like former Stocksbridge Park Steels striker Jamie Vardy.

A PFSA spokesman said: "This exciting new partnership is mutually beneficial for the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League and members of the Professional Football Scouts Association by giving clubs access to a large network of football scouts more often seen in the Premier League and Football League.

“As a result of our partnership, all 68 of the Northern Premier League’s clubs will now have the option to add a further dimension to their game with player, team or match analysis from the certified football scouts of the PFSA.

“The scheme has already proved popular with a number of clubs from the league with PFSA scouts providing match analysis and we’re looking forward to the pilot benefitting many more now after it takes off across the league.”

EVO-STIK NPL chairman Mark Harris said: “As a league we are constantly looking at innovative ways in which we might benefit and grow the game. This is another new initiative that the NPL is launching in support of our member clubs, helping them reduce costs whilst at the same time improving levels of professionalism. We are delighted to partner with an organisation with similar values.”

The PFSA hold monthly scouting courses both in the UK and across the world with up to 50 per cent of their students coming from abroad. Attendees range from professional scouts and administrators to others hoping to kick off careers in the football industry. All courses delivered are accredited and include training around child protection, safeguarding and talent ID.

For more information on the new partnership visit: www.thepfsa.co.uk/npl.

Images courtesy of thepfsa.co.uk

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