Star graduate on brink of big break

The 18-year-old, pictured, was congratulated by his proud EVO-STIK League Premier Division club and former coaches at the Northern Premier League Football Academy on Thursday after embarking on a 10-day trial at West Bromwich Albion.

The first academy graduate in ten years to sign a professional contract with the Gladiators during pre-season and the NPLFA's second to the pro game after earning a move to Mansfield Town in July 2016, the defender first arrived at Causeway Lane in 2016 following the closure of Chesterfield's academy.

During a recent loan move at Belper Town after returning to the Gladiators on a pro deal, his talents were recognised by another Premier League club and a Championship outfit who both expressed an interest in seeing more of him.

Hunt played for more than 80 minutes in West Brom's Premier League 2 fixture against Middlesbrough and @Matlock_Town tweeted on Thursday: "As a club, we couldn't be more proud of @maxhunt10 who is not only representing himself well but the club as well."

An NPLFA spokesman said: "We are delighted to hear that former Matlock Town student Max Hunt is currently on trial at Premier League club West Bromwich Albion. The centre-back’s progression over his two years in the academy while getting his education is a great testament to the hard work of the youth development programme and coaches."

The spokesman added: "On behalf of everyone at the NPL Football Academy we would like to congratulate Max and wish him all the best for the future."

Matlock Town's development manager Justin Tellus said: “It’s massive for the club and huge for the development system, it just shows the progression, it shows what we’re all about that hard work and dedication by lots of different people.

“It’s our wish to produce players for our first-team and also to produce players that can go on to the professional level. With Max being from our first group of players, it would be a massive scoop not just for the team and the community but also the Northern Premier League Football Academy itself.”

Tellus also told the Matlock Mercury that he believes Hunt could be the first of a number of young Gladiators to graduate to the professional ranks with the talent currently at the club. “If I’m honest I do think there are others in the pipeline and there are a few special ones in the new group that we’ve just taken in at U17s but it’s down to our coaches and down to the individuals themselves to really work over the two years.

“What we try to do is to give them the foundations to be able to sustain a career in football, and when they get to the end of the two years it’s all about what we’ve done with them and what commitment they’ve put forward — and how will that set the benchmark of where they can play.”

The NPLFA was founded with the backing of the Football Association at five pilot clubs in September 2014 to provide career pathways into the football industry with youngsters studying on two year BTEC courses while being trained on a daily basis by UEFA qualified coaches and competing in the NPL Youth League and national competitions like the FA Youth Cup.

Now expanded to 12 member clubs and still the only league wide academy in English football combining football with further education, the NPLFA is offering its fourth intake of students this season the chance to continue their education to degree level after teaming up with Loughborough College in the summer to launch a new higher education partnership.

To see the NPLFA's latest promotional videos and success stories as well information on upcoming Winter Trials for next season's intake, follow on Twitter at @NPLFA or visit: www.nplfa.co.uk.

Images courtesy of the nplfa.co.uk & @Matlock_TownFC/Twitter

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