Kyle Spraggon, Connor Parker and Kieran Wright recognised on Saturday
Kyle Spraggon, Connor Parker and Kieran Wright, who were part of the first group of students to complete the Football & Education programme run through the club, celebrated their success at the first game of the season on Saturday. The boys received a signed Cobblers shirt presented to them by the Football & Education Programme staff Jean Limpitlaw and Pete Stephenson.
10 boys successfully completed the academic programme and gained a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport (performance and excellence), which is the equivalent of gaining 3 A Levels. During their time on the course, they also trained and played Futsal, representing the club in the Football League backed Futsal league playing fixtures every other week in Birmingham at the National Futsal Centre.
4 of the boys, including Kyle and Connor, are now set for University with another hoping to go after taking a gap year, 3 are currently coaching within the schools programme for the club and one will start a Sport Development apprenticeship working alongside the Football and Education programme staff Jean Limpitlaw and Pete Stephenson for the new academic year. This has shown the value of this programme and gives an idea of the exit pathways out of the programme.
From September, the programme is expanding so that the group will study for the Extended Level 3 Diploma alongside training and playing 11 a side football. They will also form the club’s first ever U18 Development Squad, so that not only will the boys have the opportunities to follow the pathways of this year’s group, but they may also have the opportunity to step over into the full U18 squad with the chance of earning a professional contract.
There are still a couple of spaces available to join those who have already accepted a provisional place. We are still accepting applicants who match the requirements for the programme and you can still apply even if you have been accepted on to a course somewhere else, providing you apply before the 21st August.
The minimum requirements for the programme are to have been born between September ‘97 and August ’98, be predicted and achieve at least 4 A*-C GCSE’s (including Maths and English) and have good footballing ability.
If you tick all these boxes, please get in touch with Programme leader Pete Stephenson as soon as possible by emailing pete.stephenson@ntfc.tv