Football Academy reaches semi-finals of national cup

The Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) football academy, run in association with Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC), has reached the semi-finals of the Football Conference Youth Alliance national cup.

The academy team, who are based at MMU Cheshire’s campus in Alsager, will play Rushden and Diamonds at Nene Park, Northamptonshire, on Wednesday 3 March 2010 to gain a place in the national final.

Melvin Wilkes, Joint Head Youth Coach for the Academy said: “All the players have worked incredibly hard to get to the semi-finals and they fully deserve this success.”

He added: “Getting this far in the competition, as well other national competitions, is testament to the dedicated MMU and NULC staff who help support the students through every aspect of their education, from their academic studies right through to their attitude and fitness.”

The MMU football academy, which is run in association with NULC, sees the young footballers spending four days a week studying and training at the Alsager campus and one day a week at NULC studying towards a BTEC First Diploma or BTEC National Diploma in Sport (Performance and Excellence).

For more information about the MMU/NULC football academy, contact Melvyn Wilkes on 0161 247 5298 or m.wilkes@mmu.ac.uk or Nigel Deeley on 0161 247 5295 or n.j.deeley@mmu.ac.uk