The Stones, Maidstone United FC

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The Stones, Maidstone United FC

02/07/10 New Football Academy Launched - Maidstone United

Maidstone United launch a football academy

Maidstone United Football Club are launching a football academy from September – the first of its kind in mid Kent.

This is an exciting opportunity for footballers to continue in full time education, after completing their GCSEs, and combine it with the sport they love.

Anyone interested in a place at the Maidstone United Football Academy must have played at district league level or above, and display all the necessary attributes to improve further. Applicants must be aged 16 or 17 years old as at 31 August 2010.

Places are limited and will be allocated following open trials and interviews. These take place at Cobdown Sports and Social Club, near Maidstone, on Monday 5 July, Friday 9 July, Monday 12 July and Friday 16 July. All sessions start at 6.30pm and end at 8.30pm.

References from suitable people (PE teachers, club/district/county football managers etc.) are welcomed.

The academy will be based at Cobdown Sports and Social Club – arguably the best football facility in the Maidstone and Malling area. Academic lessons will be taught by fully-qualified teachers and football training will be led by coaches qualified up to UEFA A standard.

At the end of the course students will have completed a BTEC First Diploma or National Award in Sport, combined with a NVQ2 in Sports Activity Leadership and the FA Level 1 Coaching certificate.

Maidstone United General Manager Bill Williams said: “This is a massive coup for Maidstone United Football Club. Our football academy will provide first class education and football coaching. The government want school leavers to continue in education or move to employment or work-based training. As a club we are delighted to offer young people in Maidstone and Malling the opportunity to combine their further studies with sport.”

As part of Maidstone United’s player development, the academy will provide top class coaching for promising young players to develop their skills while continuing with their education. The aim is to provide players with opportunities to progress into the professional or semi professional game.

Students will be given the chance to develop and practice their coaching skills, as part of Maidstone United’s extensive community and school coaching programme.

For more information and to register for the football academy, please visit www.maidstoneunited.co.uk/academy

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