Successful scholars school expands

The Mariners signed a new two year agreement with specialist sport and education provider Elite Sports Academy over the weekend after excellent academic results and a scholar retention rate of 96 per cent paved the way for the EVO-STIK League Premier Division club to continue providing a positive pathway for players as an alternative to university.

Running through to 2020, the extension will see the Crosby-based club's approved apprenticeship partners operating two youth teams for the next two seasons as well expanding their educational provision to offer three diverse pathways for Marine Scholars. Students achieving four GCSEs can access the two year OCR Technical in Sport and Physical Activity at level 3 in addition to traineeships offering a range of NVQ courses in gym instructions and other practical programmes.

Marine chairman Paul Leary is pictured shaking hands of the new deal with Elite Sports Academy operations director Paul Brannan in a statement released by the club announcing the agreement.

Brannan said: “This is a realistic starting point for players who are released by clubs at 16 years of age. We continue to offer the highest standard of football with a broad net of academy opposition. This will stretch players and expose them to other club scouts when playing around the country.

"Playing at the Marine Travel Arena is such a brilliant opportunity for players because it offers a quality home ground experience for players. Talented footballers with a serious interest in achieving paid football should consider contacting us to find out more on www.eliteschools.co.uk.

“Seven of our sports athletes have progressed to the USA and Australia to study, work and play football. In some of these cases players have been granted the full funding to continue higher education whilst pursuing their performance dreams."

He added: "Over the past 13 years Elite Sports Academy has a proven track record of developing players on and off the field. We are delighted to announce our extended partnership with Marine which will offer talented footballers a realistic pathway into semi-professional football and beyond.”

Marine chairman Leary said: “In the first year the academic achievements, scholar retention and the development of the young footballers has been excellent and is recognition of the high quality delivery of the education and football coaching programmes by Elite Sports Academy tutors.

"We are delighted that the success of this first academic year has paved the way for a new agreement to be made between Marine officials and Elite senior staff to work together for another two years and it is a fitting reward for the hard work and professionalism shown by the staff involved.”

Leary added: “The decision to link up with Elite Sports Academy at the beginning of 2017 is now fully justified with local scholars benefitting both academically and in their football development. The experience of the students playing at the Marine Travel Arena, the best Non-League venue in Merseyside, has proved invaluable in that development.”

Image courtesy of @MarineAFC/Twitter

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