Calling Young Footballers

3rd April 2012
Calling Young Footballers

The Sittingbourne Football Club Youth Academy is recruiting new players ready to play in the illustrious Youth Alliance Conference League for the 2012-13 season. The recruitment drive follows Sittingbourne FC’s Youth Academy inception and season of consolidation in the league in 2011-12. With this in mind local MP, Gordon Henderson, went along to see if he had what it takes and learn a bit more about the Academy.

Run in partnership with The Sittingbourne Community College, the Academy is a youth development programme with a difference combining an elite and semi-professional football environment with educational and academic opportunity. The new post-16 recruits will train for 6 hours per week to prepare for games to be played at either Bourne Park, home of Sittingbourne FC, or other non-league clubs across the South East. Their ability is developed under the close guidance of UEFA A qualified Head Coach Graham Webb.

Whilst developing skills on the pitch, the recruits will also study to further their careers off the field through a range of post-16 qualifications and subjects (A Levels, BTEC Level 3, Level 2s and NVQs).

Darren Collins, Sittingbourne FC Youth Academy Director, said:

“This is an unrivalled opportunity for young talented players to be treated and managed like a professional player in return for their commitment to their academic work, a good standard of behaviour and a high standard of play.”

The current Academy intake put their local MP through his paces when he went to visit them last week to learn more about the programme. Mr Henderson said:

“This is a great chance for budding footballers to combine their passion and talent for football with gaining solid qualifications to support them in the future and if they get the chance to play football at a professional level then that’s an added bonus. Coincidentally, after today I certainly think a few of the current intake have the potential!”

If you’re aged 16-19 and think you have what it takes, then trials for next year’s Academy will be held on Wednesday 11th April 2012 at SCC 3G 3-5pm and Wednesday 16th May 2012 at SCC 3G 5.30-7.30pm.