Berwick Rangers Football Club Chairman Len Eyre and fellow Directors Bill Parkin and Graham Bell welcomed 14 prospective students to Shielfield Park on Wednesday 24th August to gain more information and knowledge regarding the proposed Football Academy.
The club are hoping to provide another coaching session following this week’s meeting.The club are hoping to provide another coaching session following this week’s meeting.
Berwick-upon-Tweed M.P. Anne-Marie Trevelyan and local councillor Paul Hodgson demonstrated their support for the proposed academy by attending a presentation to the students carried out by a Northumberland Academy tutor George Brownlee from Ashington Academy. Both were most impressed with the proposed set-up and what the club are trying to achieve. The presentation was also well-received by the prospective students in attendance.
Following the presentation the students were put through their paces in a coaching session held by first-team Manager John Coughlin, his Captain Jonny Fairbairn and Goalkeeping Coach Jonathan Craig.
The coaching session was set up by John as per what would be expected at a Professional Football Club, and lasted around an hour and a half. The students were in agreement that the session, which provided an insight into what would take place in relation to playing football with the Academy, was enjoyable.
Following the session, John stated his belief that all prospective students got stuck in and coped well with the challenge of the coaching they received, taking a lot positives from the attitude and skill levels of the youngsters.
A final one-hour presentation will take place at 6pm this Wednesday (31st August). Immediately following, coaches will once again be on hand to put youngsters through their paces on Old Shielfield and provide them with the Academy coaching experience.
The final presentation and coaching session is open to all who have previously attended presentations, as well as those who are yet to attend. As this will be the final presentation with all coaches and key parties present, this is a great opportunity to come along and learn more – even if you aren’t yet sure about how you want to spend your future just yet.
Berwick Rangers and Northumberland Education will then require students to enrol for the Academy. With a good number of students have already submitted their application, and more are expected to do so on Wednesday, it is now odds-on that the Academy will go ahead this academic year. That being said, prospective students are still encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible.
The course is open to both male and females aged 16 and over. Those who fall within this bracket who have aspirations of a career within sport would be welcomed along to our next presentation to see what the Academy is all about.
