Students to star on their own MOTD!

Professional filming and analysis company FilmMyMatch are set to capture every kick of a ball when students at the EVO-STIK NPL's ground-breaking academy return for the new academic year in September.

The EVO-STIK NPL became the first league in English football to launch a youth league and academy combining football with further education in September 2014 and NPLFA officials are celebrating a new partnership that will see all 122 fixtures in the 2016-17 NPL Youth League professionally filmed and analysed.

Established in 2012, FilmMyMatch will use the latest technology, including extendable tripod technology and high definition cameras, while their in-house team of performance analysts will run the rule over every match, providing coaches and players with the opportunity to improve performance throughout the season.

Most importantly for the young players hoping to showcase their talents, the footage will be available to view online and via mobile and tablet devices within 24 hours of each game, enabling players, coaches, family and friends to easily watch and share. A MOTD-style highlights show incorporating regular 'goal', 'save' and 'skill' features of the week is also planned to lead the coverage.

Excited NPLFA officials say the partnership will also offer a host of other benefits including creating individual player CV compilations and offering students the chance to experience filming and interviewing techniques.

An NPLFA spokesman said: “As with every partnership we undertake it will include a pilot programme. However, it’s a fantastic opportunity and one we are delighted to be involved in. It’s a partnership that can open up so many exciting opportunities for the students and makes them feel part of a real football league programme.

He added: "We are looking forward to seeing the partnership grow and develop with FilmMyMatch. There will be further details available about this exciting and new partnership over the next 10-14 days so keep viewing the NPLFA website and all social media outlets."

FilmMyMatch rirector Dave Roe said: “We are delighted to be working with the NPLFA. The organisation embodies our own philosophy of enhancing performance at all levels of sport through the application of elite practice.

"The NPLFA’s commitment to enhancing the experience and progression of its students through filming and analysis speaks volumes for their professional and innovative approach to the academy programme.”

He added: “For the NPLFA to invest in such a partnership shows they have the best interests of the students very much at the forefront. We believe we can bring so much to the partnership which will elevate the programme and we are delighted to be involved in the only FA sanctioned football and education academy league.”

The NPLFA has more than doubled in size since opening its doors to its first intake of students in September 2014 with the backing of the Football Association at five pilot clubs.

Providing career pathways into the football industry, students aged 16-18 who win a place with the NPLFA study on two year courses for Level 3 Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) qualifications.

While studying, they compete in the NPL Youth League, the academy's own FA sanctioned competition which was won last season for the second time by Mickleover Sports. They also play in national competitions like the FA Youth Cup while being trained on a daily basis by UEFA qualified coaches.

The NPL Football Academy has also entered into a strategic partnership with the world’s leading provider of sports scholarships that should soon see students playing and coaching in the United States while linking up with German giants Bayern Munich.

The NPLFA announced last summer that it was teaming up with Soccer Chance USA, specialists in innovative soccer scholarships for UK students and the UK arm of Global Premier Soccer. GPS, a large US soccer business with many thousands of players in its system, is also the official partner to FC Bayern Munich in North America.

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