Mossley FC excited to join Evo-Stik Football Academy

MOSSLEY FOOTBALL Club officials are excited after signing up to the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Football Academy.

The venture will bring the classroom to the football club as students aged 16/18 years undertake a two-year college course as well as having the opportunity to play football at a high level.

And Mossley hope to benefit in a number of ways as secretary Harry Humes explained: “We will benefit financially with our facilities being used but, more importantly, hopefully the academy can become a feeder for the first team.

“We currently have five junior teams at the club and the academy is part of the bridge between them and the senior side.”

Mr Humes added it will be a great opportunity for a youngster to be involved in football while studying.

“The course can lead to many career paths involving sports science, physio, refereeing, coaching and playing and students will come out of the course well qualified,” he added.

Teenagers will get the chance to train daily as a trainee would do at a Premier League or Football League club with coaching from UEFA ‘A’ and ‘B’ qualified coaches.

There will be, however, a large emphasis on studying for a BTEC level two and three in Sport.

The players will also take FA levels one and two in coaching, FA refereeing course, FA mentoring course. There may also be opportunities to coach in USA, Australia and Spain and a chance to play semi-professional football here.

They would play in the midweek Northern Premier League Football Academy League with 12 clubs expected to feature in the 2015/16 season and also represent Mossley in the FA Youth Cup.

The academy launched this season with eight clubs participating – Mossley had hoped to be in from the start but weren’t ready to do so.

Mossley are holding an open night for prospective students on Thursday, February 19 (7pm) at their Seel Park ground.

Further information is available online at www.nplfa.co.uk or from Mr Tague on 07960 806637.