Student stars advertise their success

15 Apr 2017 By David Watters

The NPL Football Academy's stars are looking forward to their next outing after their performance against Port Vale was hailed as a "great advert" for the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League.

The NPFLA heaped praise on the third side to represent the EVO-STIK NPL's ground-breaking league-wide academy ahead of Easter after they twice came from behind on Monday night in a 3-2 reverse against the League One club's youngsters at Kidsgrove Athletic’s Novus Stadium.

Played under floodlights in front of a good crowd at the EVO-STIK NPL First Division South club's home, students representing Belper Town, Kidsgrove Athletic, Leek Town, Mickleover Sports, Radcliffe Borough, Warrington Town and Witton Albion were selected for the NPLFA's first prestigious inter-league fixture of 2017.

Adam Leach and Tyreece Robinson found the net an NPLFA side managed by Mickleover Sports academy coaches John McGrath and Andy Dales 24 hours after the majority of the players were named in the academy's 'Team of the Year' at the EVO-STIK NPL's 2017 Players of the Year Awards in Barnsley on Sunday night before being honoured on stage by Welsh footballing legend Dean Saunders.

An NPLFA spokesman said: "The lads did very well and was a fantastic advert for the Northern Premier League. The game and performance from the NPLFA showcased the talent we have in our programme against a fantastic professional youth academy and every single one of the students involved can feel proud of the effort and application they gave."

He added: "Watched by a good crowd, the NPLFA students gave a fantastic account of their ability against professional opposition in an exciting game under floodlights. A special thanks to Kidsgrove Athletic FC for hosting the game and also to John McGrath and Andy Dales who took charge of team affairs on the evening."

Founded with the backing of the Football Association at five pilot clubs in September 2014 to provide career pathways into the football industry and still the only league wide academy in English football combining sport with education, the NPLFA is expanding to 13 clubs for the 2017-18 season in September.

The NPLFA's tutors and coaches are currently recruiting their third intake of students at trials running since before Easter at all 12 NPLFA clubs for ambitious students either leaving school this summer or coming to the end of their first year in college.

Students and their families are also looking forward to rounding off the current season next month at the NPLFA's inaugural cup final at Stoke City's Bet365 Stadium on Sunday 28 May.

NPLFA: Sam Gilbert (Belper Town), Manzoor Amiri (Mickleover Sports), Morgan Williams (Mickleover Sports), Ben White (Warrington Town), Arron Woodward (Warrington Town), Adam Leach (Radcliffe Borough), Stephen Stretton (Radcliffe Borough), Jack Walsh (Mickleover Sports), Aron McGrath (Warrington), Jake Dickinson (Mickleover Sports), Euan Woods (Warrington Town)

Subs: (All Used) Tyreece Robinson (Mickleover Sports), Jaques Barker (Mickleover Sports), Keeylin Thomas (Kidsgrove Athletic), Jake Daly (Radcliffe Borough), Owen Wynne (Witton Albion), Ryan Hanlon (Leek Town)

To see the NPLFA's latest promotional videos and success stories, follow on Twitter at @NPLFA or visit: www.nplfa.co.uk.

Images courtesy of PG Sports Photography/NPLFA

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Where next?

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Dolly Blues join growing club Lancaster City have joined the growing list of EVO-STIK Northern Premier League clubs who’ve attained the Football Association’s sought after Charter Standard Adult Club status.