Elite Academy and Skelmersdale United Football Club have fo

[Kev Panther]

‘One of the best football and education programmes I have seen ’
Edexcel Quality Review, 2016.


Elite Academy and Skelmersdale United Football Club have formed a partnership which offers young players aged 16 - 19 a chance to be coached and play football full time whilst being educated on a college course BTEC Level 2 and 3 or a construction course depending on the student’s qualifications at JMO Sports Park.
All new courses for September 2016 will be offering:
• Choice of 3 courses to cater for a variety of abilities
• Building positive pathways which include driving lessons and work placements
• Opportunities to FA Level 1 Coaching
• Opportunities for paid work
• Technology used with all students
• All Staff fully qualified teachers and coaches
Elite gives players the opportunities to be coached at football by qualified staff with experience working in the professional game and semi-professional, and play in the college league, Skelmersdale United Football Club will give the players a chance to play in their youth team and progress depending on their abilities within the club.
Fully qualified teachers and coaches work with the students throughout the week to teach a range of subjects with the aim of allowing the learners to focus on their academic endeavours, while benefitting from coaching at a football academy level which focuses on excellence performance.
Elite will be the first football academy to offer a Skills for Life programme giving all students an opportunity to build their CV with essential skills including driving lessons and work placements. Part time coaching opportunities with our schools coaching programme will be available.
At Elite players are given structured football coaching sessions, with fitness training all overseen by Head Coach Chris Stammers who is a UEFA A coaching licence holder.
Stammers explained, “Many of our players have been released by clubs or played at grass root level and it is our job to develop them in all aspects of the game, technically, tactically, physical and mentally so they can try live their dreams. Linking with Skelmersdale United Football Club gives them a chance to play at a good level and challenge them to trying to make it in the game with a qualification.”
There will be a trial at Skelmersdale United Football Club ground on Thursday 28th April 2016 at 6:15 pm please attend to try and secure one of the 16 squad places on the fulltime course.

Please register online www.eliteschools.co.uk or contact Chris Stammers [e-mail] or 07720 716830

[Stuey Thompson]

I'm just wondering, where does this leave are own academy? the many local lads who have come through it and are now playing at evo 1 and the northwest counties on loan? surely it would be beneficial, if these work schemes were to be offered to them ,for themselves to develop in sport and career wise.our club has benefited greatly from the work the youth coaches and lads have put in,so I would like to think there will be some kind of reward for their efforts.or could we be witnessing yet another mistake by offering these placements out to just anyone.always look after your own first. It's an unwritten rule.

[Kev Panther]

Stuey The course is open to everybody, including the current members of our Youth set up, it is not taking anything away from our current crop
but offering them the chance for education whilst still being involved in football

[Stuey Thompson]

Fantastic I hope the lads understand what a great opportunity it is for them if they are serious about various careers in sport.these opportunities don't come around in areas like skelmersdale very often.I hope the parents see this and encourage any undecided lads on the right path.so with that Kev, I take it the clubs youth managers are 100% behind the scheme and have passed on the information to the lads.