Hastings United Football Club is pleased to announce the launch of a Football Academy commencing September 2013.
The Football and Education scheme will be run in partnership with Sussex Coast College and Essential Sports Training and aims to give talented young players aged 16-18 the opportunity to combine high level football with full time study at an appropriate level.
Players will receive a structured coaching programme from UEFA B and A licence coaches and will represent Hastings United in the Ryman under 18 and 21 leagues next season.
Club Chairman Dave Walters is fully committed to investing in this scheme as part of the overall youth development structure at the club with the long term aim of producing players capable of representing the club at first team level.
Dave states
“It has been a long held ambition at the club to set up this type of arrangement and as a club we are very optimistic that Essential Sports Training can deliver the type of opportunity for aspiring young footballers to make this a success. The courses provided by Sussex Coast College will also add to the appeal and we look forward to working together for hopefully many years to come. We would like to thank Dave Nessling for his considerable efforts in helping to get this off the ground.”
The scheme will be overseen by UEFA A licence coach and experienced FA tutor Mark Leigh of Essential Sports Training who have a proven track record of running successful football and education programmes of this type.
Mark confirmed:
“We’re delighted to be working with the Club and the College on this exciting scheme and feel that it offers an ideal opportunity for young players to maximise their potential as a footballer while achieving qualifications and valuable life skills which will serve them well in their chosen career beyond football”.
The education programme will be delivered at Sussex Coast College where students will be able to study Sports Coaching, Sports Science or Injury management as well as more traditional academic subjects.
Selection for the scheme will be based on playing ability following a series of trials between May and August, 2013 but is contingent on all players being enrolled on a full time study programme at Sussex Coast College. Please visit www.essentialsports.co.uk for a list of trial dates and registration form or contact Mark Leigh on 01273 616 458 or mark@essentialsports.co.uk for further details.
This is a fantastic move forward for the club and is a positive sign that the club are looking to develop players. The decision to go with the U21 squad is superb, not only does it give a stepping stone for players once reaching the end of their 2nd year in the 18's but with the rule that you can play 3 "over age" players its somewhere for 1st team players to get match fit after injury.
Excellent news - we've been waiting a while for this to be put in place. Nice to see it actually taking a step forward. Hopefully we're able to use this and bring in some talented new, young players to replace those who're injured and/or out when they are injured.
Good news that we will have 2 teams where we can bring on youngsters and also try out new prospects and as has been said give returning first team players an opportunity to get match fit.
