The students have studied at Highbury and Poolfoot Farm for two years
Fleetwood Town Football Club’s Community Trust are pleased to announce that their first football education students have successfully completed their two year BTEC level three extended diploma in sport.The Community Trust decided to add the Football League Trust’s education programme to their schedule in the summer of 2014, to provide for students in the Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde area.
After successfully recruiting 10 students from local high schools, the course commenced in September 2014. Now heading into its third year, the course still have spaces available to interested school students for 2016-2018 course.
The students have enjoyed two years of studying at Fleetwood Town, firstly at Highbury Stadium, before making the move to Poolfoot Farm, where they have been educated alongside the first team on a daily basis.
Academically, the students leave us with a level three diploma in sports performance and excellence which is the equivalent to three A Levels. We have one student who has had an unconditional offer from Edge Hill University to study Sports Therapy.
We also have a large number applying for the Foundation Degree at Blackpool and Fylde College to study sports coaching and exercise instruction. Others have left and joined full time employment immediately or have gone into successful apprenticeships and traineeships.
During their time here the students have had a number of different opportunities to help them develop personally and gain key real world working experience.
These range from delivering football coaching sessions, providing group and individual exercise programmes and sessions, officiating football games, helping run sports events, aiding the community sports coaches, NCS assistance and academy physiotherapy experience.
It is fantastically positive for Fleetwood Town as we are giving local students opportunities in sport. The experiences gained here are a unique opportunity. We wish all the students the very best for the future and whatever it may bring for them.
Student and graduate Matthew Kell stated: “I’ve really enjoyed the course over the past two years as we’ve gone into a lot of detail in the units we’ve been doing things such as anatomy, physiology, nutrition and fitness.
“The course helps in getting you ready for the real thing, be that University or going straight into the workplace, and I can’t stress that enough.
“The working environment is very good and the training ground is unbelievable. To be able to learn and train in such surroundings is brilliant.
“The fact I’ve done well in my assignments over the past two years has meant I’ve managed to get a place at University which I’m delighted about.
“Edge Hill was my first choice and the fact it’s an unconditional offer is very pleasing too. I’m looking forward to starting in September.
“I would definitely advise any student to take this course up because the opportunities are endless. I chose this course the day I found out about it.
“It’s more enjoyable than sixth form in my opinion and is very unique in the fact that your education is based at a football club. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.”
For more information about the football education course and how to apply, please visit the Fleetwood Town Community Trust’s website or contact David Walton on dave.walton@fleetwoodtownfc.com
Spaces still available for the 2016 course starting in September.