Do you aspire to play for a real football club? AFC Fylde and Blackpool and The Fylde College are recruiting for 16-18 year olds to join their Football Academy starting this September 2015.

The academy combines a full-time sports, fitness and exercise Study Programme at an Ofsted Outstanding College, with the opportunity to develop and play football with a real conference team.

The academy is designed to develop players’ abilities both on and off the pitch by teaching them a range of sport and fitness skills, as well as improving footballing techniques with the help of professional and experienced coaches.

All prospective players/students will be required to go through a recruitment and selection process where they will take part in a number of trials carried out by AFC Fylde Coaches to determine their football abilities and levels. They will also need to attend an interview with the Sports Team at Blackpool and The Fylde College to ensure the correct study programme pathway is selected based on prior learning, experience and entry qualifications/ grades. To be accepted onto the AFC Fylde and B&FC Football Academy you must be successful in both the performance and academic recruitment processes (There are plenty of opportunities for students to still study sport at B&FC and play football for the College if they are not accepted onto the academy programme).

The Courses
Students will have the option of the following study programmes:

Level 2 Sports, Fitness and Exercise Study Programme

City and Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Sport

Entry requirements

4 GCSEs at grades D or above including English or Maths plus one C or Level 1 at Merit level or above and a D in English or Maths. You will cover a range of sports and fitness elements including anatomy, fitness testing and injury prevention. You will also complete a Functional Skills or GCSE programme in English and Maths as well as a period of work experience.

Level 3 Sports, Fitness and Exercise Study Programme

BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Sport (2 A Levels)

Entry requirements

5 GCSEs at grades C or above including English or Maths or a Level 2 qualification at Merit level or above and either a grade C in GCSE English or Maths. You will cover a range of Sports and Fitness elements including Anatomy, Fitness Testing, Nutrition, Talent ID, Gym Instructing, Sports Coaching and Injury Prevention. You will also complete a Functional Skills or GCSE programme in English and Maths as well as a period of work experience.

Level 3 EXTENDED Sports, Fitness and Exercise Study Programme

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport (3 A Levels)

Entry requirements

5 GCSEs at grades C or above including English and Maths. You will cover a range of sports and fitness elements including sports massage and therapy, anatomy, fitness testing, nutrition, talent ID, psychology, sports development, gym instructing, sports coaching and injury prevention. You will also complete a developmental programme in English and Maths as well as a period of work experience.

All about the football

AFC Fylde realise the importance of being involved in youth football to develop the players of the future. Players who take up places on the academy programme will represent AFC Fylde in the Conference Youth Alliance (North Division) and will play against teams such as Crewe Alexandra, Macclesfield Town, FC Halifax Town, Gateshead, FC United of Manchester, Altrincham and Guiseley. Games will be played on Wednesday afternoons, with home games being played at Kellamergh Park, the current home pitch of AFC Fylde First team.

Academy students will also have the opportunity to represent AFC Fylde Academy in the North West Youth Alliance. Games are played on a Sunday afternoon with home games taking place at Blackpool and The Fylde College on the brand new, state of the art 3G pitch facility. We hope players will progress to represent AFC Fylde Development Squad and further on into the First Team.

Students will also have the opportunity to represent and gain County and International honours. AFC Fylde currently has no fewer than eleven players in the Lancashire County Squad and two players that represented England last season and we hope you could be the next.

Alongside this, Academy players have also trialled at Barnsley FC, Blackburn Rovers and Southampton FC this season and the club has a fantastic reputation in producing young players of great quality.

For more information email: trials@afcfylde.co.uk or contact Matt Barr (Curriculum Manager for Sports at Blackpool and The Fylde College) on 01253 504194 or matt.barr@blackpool.ac.uk