TRAINING/GAMES

How often do the students train?

Students will train specifically three/four times a week usually in the afternoon after morning studies (each club timetable is different) and will be coached and managed by UEFA A & B qualified coaches who will develop the players technically during the programme through coaching and match play. There may be added training sessions with the coach subject to availability, also there may be opportunities to join in first team training sessions.

How often do the students play?

Students will play once a week, match days will be on Wednesday’s with the majority of games taking place in the afternoons however due to possible backlog of some fixtures due to weather etc, there may be two games a week with some games possibly taking place in the evenings under floodlights to further enhance the students experience. A full live match day centre is in operation on the programmes social media sites on Wednesdays.

COMPETITIONS

EXPECTATIONS

What can a student expect on the football side?

We will endeavour to ensure we work with students to provide an enrichment of football experiences throughout the year. From expert coaching through to the unique match day experience, we will treat the students with respect and look to provide a platform to allow them to receive the same football education programme as a professional football scholar would at a Football League/Premier League club and in return we will be requesting students to dedicate themselves to the programme.

IMPORTANT:  In order to take part in the football programme students will be expected to be up to date in their education and have no outstanding assignments etc.

By being a part of the Northern Premier League Football Academy and by already being involved in the club, students will have first chance opportunities to be able to progress into their clubs first team as a semi-professional footballer. First team coaching staff are informed regularly of a students progression (often watching games) by the academy coach and inviting students to training sessions if progressing well.

Every season there are also opportunities to play in the ‘Inter-League’ representative side where a nominated selected squad of players from all clubs in the league will compete against professional club academies in a series of games to showcase their talents.

GRADUATES

Who are the success stories?

When a student make his semi-professional first team debut they are classed as a footballing graduate. Since 2014 we have had a large number of debutants make their bow with several others receiving call ups. In February 2015, we were proud to announce our first ever professional graduate when Yohan Rutty-Smith signed scholarship forms for Notts County.

The majority of these students have come from local junior football to semi-professional level in the space of a year which is down to the opportunities provided to them in the NPL Football Academy and also the standard of quality coaching they are receiving on a daily basis.

INTER-LEAGUE SQUAD

What is the inter-league squad?

There are opportunities to be selected for the NPL Football Academy ‘Inter-League’ side who compete against professional football club academies.

Selection for the squad is reward for those students who have impressed all season with their ability, application and attitude and are given the opportunity to showcase their talents against the professional clubs.

HONOURS

Who has claimed the accolades?

All the stats and honours in the NPL Football Academy’s history.