On Thursday 5th December, Bromsgrove Sporting held the first introductory evening for our Football Academy. Max Connor, of the English Semi-Professional Football Academy (ESPFA – Southern League Region), presented to a group of 16-18 year-olds, parents and other interested parties how the Academy is being set-up.
The Programme is a full time two year OFSTED approved and monitored course offering a blend of academic studies, football training and coaching delivered by high quality tutors, coaches and trainers.
It has been running at a number of clubs since 2014 and is now available at the Victoria Ground, starting in earnest in 2020.
The education programme is currently running through a number of Southern League and Northern Premier League Clubs and is designed to offer further education up to BTEC level 3 or NVQ-2 which are equivalent to 2 or 3 ‘A’ levels (depending on whether the Diploma or Extended Diploma is awarded) and up to 168 UCAS points for possible University entry.
Coupled with this is a programme of training and coaching including playing in the Academy League and Cup competitions on Academy Club grounds. Games are filmed and shown to students for analysis and interest.
Educational studies include, for example, modules of Sports Coaching, Physiology for Sports Performance, Principles of Anatomy and Physiology, Sports Nutrition, Leadership and Management in Sports, Sport as a Business, Sporting Injuries and Treatment and Analysis of Sports Performance which students may use to further careers in playing and other non-playing football careers.
This programme is fully integrated with the current educational system and offers the possibility of advancement to University, US Sports Scholarships and its own ESPFA Degree Course.
The cost to students is essentially nil, the only cast being approximately £150 for the Academy sports kit (13 items). The Academy provides transport for all away games and, under certain circumstances bursaries can be made available.
Since 2014, over 400 students have enrolled across the country and to date 53 students have made first team debuts.
We are seeking around 16 Students for the course and details are available from: theslfa.co.uk or calling 0161 826 5958. Expression of interest and pre-registration via the web site is advised.
Entry to the programme is by football trial to be held and at Bromsgrove Sporting’s Victoria Ground on Thursday 2nd January from 12.00 to 1.30 and if you are interested and are between 16 – 18 you are free to attend. These trials will be followed at a later date with an interview.
Bromsgrove Sporting’s Chairman, Mike Burke, commented: “This is a great opportunity for those willing to commit to full-time education in sport and as a community-based club, we are delighted that we have been chosen to join the Academy programme – who knows how many might make it to our U-18’s, first team or join our back-room staff.”
