Darlington FC launch new Football Academy – Quakers announce a new programme for young people with a passion for sport. 

Darlington FC, in partnership with SCL Education Group, is launching an exciting training and education programme for 16 to 18 year olds to give them a platform for a career in sport.  The Football Academy Study Programme will help students to develop valuable life skills and gain key educational qualifications alongside relevant work experience and great sports training delivered by Darlington Football Club.

The programme begins in September 2018, and will be based at Blackwell Meadows. Lectures will be staged in Darlington Rugby Football Club’s headquarters, while football training will take place on the nearby grass football pitches. Students who complete the first year will gain a BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Sport, and those who complete the second year will gain a BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Sport.

David Johnston, Darlington’s Chief Executive Officer said; “The aim of our student-athlete Football Education programme (Post-16/GCSE) is to provide the opportunity for talented young football players to pursue a dual pathway leading to higher education and careers in sport. Our base at Blackwell Meadows will offer us a great location to develop the Academy. Darlington Rugby Football Club are fully behind us in making this project a success in which Darlington FC can develop on and off the field.”

The Chairman of Darlington Rugby Football Club, Michael Wilkinson added; “The launch of the Academy is good news for future generations of young persons who have aspirations of achievement in sport and education. DRFC fully support its development and next year we look to include students whose chosen sport is rugby within that Academy”.

All students will continue their football development through our football training programme designed and delivered by our highly-qualified coaching team led by Academy manager Tommy Wright and head coach Alan White.

Our coaching team will work alongside SCL Education Group, who are one of the UK’s leading independent providers of education and offer a wide range of engaging, forward-thinking and successful programmes. They provide education programmes at numerous clubs, including Premiership club West Ham United.

Graduates of the programme can use their qualification to consider playing football professionally or semi-professionally, remain in further education, continue training or gain employment in a sports environment.

Darlington manager Tommy Wright has a philosophy of integrating youth in the first team, so this will be the perfect time for a youngster to showcase his talent. His recent signing of 16 year old Mitchell Glover was a clear statement that building for the future is at the forefront of his thinking.

Wright has a proven track record of developing players and setting up Academies at his two previous clubs, Corby and Nuneaton, with over thirty youngsters benefitting from the trust and belief that the manager had in them by giving them senior debuts.

“For me it’s all about giving youngsters opportunities,” he said. “I was lucky enough to have a manager, Micky Adams, who believed in me when I was 17 years old, and he played, and continues to play, a huge part in my current thinking as a manager.

“I was given the opportunity of a lifetime to make my debut in the Premier League for my hometown club Leicester City. That was always my dream and I want to play my part in achieving other youngsters’ dreams.”

If you’re interested in finding out more about the upcoming trails for the Academy Programme or know someone who would like to apply, please contact academy@darlingtonfc.org  or  register@wearescl.co.uk for further information. 

In your e mail, please include the following:

The SCL Group are a BTEC approved centre.