Talented young footballers invited to academy open day

Young footballers are being offered the chance to attend an open day for the Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) football academy in association with Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC).

The event will start at 11am on Thursday 18 February at Manchester Metropolitan University’s Alsager campus.

Organisers are looking to recruit boys aged between 16 and 18 of good footballing ability to form part of an under-19 team playing at a high level in the Football Conference Youth League.

During the open day potential students will take part in a tour of the university facilities where the academy is based, structured professional football coaching sessions and a series of trial games.

Melvyn Wilkes, Joint Head Youth Coach, said: “The standard is high and competition for a place will be fierce.

“Thanks to the strong partnership between MMU and NULC, those who are accepted can expect to receive the very best education and training, both on the football field and in the classroom.”

Boys who are accepted will work towards a BTEC National Diploma in Sports Performance and Excellence at NULC while also having the opportunity to pursue their football career.

Since its launch in 2005, the academy has achieved notable success. In its opening year, the team saw off competition from 132 teams to lift the British Colleges Cup in 2006.

The MMU academy side was crowned West Midlands Premier League Champions 2007/08 and they have recently made the quarter finals of this year’s Football Conference National Cup.

For more information regarding arrival times and registration, players are asked to contact academy coaches Melvyn Wilkes, m.wilkes@mmu.ac.uk  or Nigel Deeley , n.j.deeley@mmu.ac.uk on 0161 2475298 or 0161 2475295. For general information about the football academies at NULC, visit www.nulc.ac.uk/football