Sparsholt College Group has announced that it’s football academy has signed with the Chelsea Football Club Foundation – a fantastic way to kick off the new year.
The Chelsea FC Foundation is the charitable arm of the football club that empowers communities and individuals to achieve their goals through football.
This new exciting association brings a new wealth of opportunities to sport students studying at Sparsholt College, giving them the chance to have coaching sessions with Chelsea FCF coaches, visit the home of Chelsea Football Club at Stamford Bridge, and be recognised by one of the country’s leading Premier League Football Clubs.
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John Dutton, Chelsea FC Foundation Hampshire senior officer, said: “Chelsea FC Foundation are delighted to create this association with Sparsholt College. Sparsholt College is a leading further education provider in the South East and together we will create a football academy programme that encapsulates the values of both the College Group and Chelsea FC Foundation.
“With shared goals we will be looking to offer a diverse and inclusive programme that excels both on and off the pitch. Not only will the college academy offer students the opportunity to compete at a national level, we will also work closely with the students to begin their coach education journey with a view to offering employment opportunities in the football industry.”
The campus’s football academy programme is embedded within the Sports Coaching and Development Level 3 BTEC course, and the BTEC Level 2 Sports Award ran at Sparsholt. Students train at least three times a week and play in a comprehensive match programme, now under the banner of Chelsea FC Foundation.
The team competes in national leagues and competitions, such as the National Football Youth League under 19s, National League Youth Alliance, Hampshire Colleges’ Football League and the FA Youth Cup.
Mark Treagust, assistant principal for sport at Sparsholt College has welcomed the new partnership.
He said: “The partnership between Chelsea FC Foundation and the Sparsholt Football Academy is an exciting new venture that will allow us to offer an exceptional academic study programme alongside the highest standard competitive football for our young learners.
“The new suite of BTEC programmes in coaching and development and personal training will provide our learners with the platform to further their careers whilst giving them opportunities to develop their football pathway amidst excellent facilities and experienced coaching.”
Working alongside Chelsea FCF, Sparsholt College aims to raise the aspirations of aspiring footballers across the south, with fresh new opportunities at the College’s amazing 450-acre countryside campus.
Find out more about Sparsholt College’s football academy and new association with Chelsea FC Foundation at the next on-campus open event, being held on Saturday February 5. Book your space online at sparsholt.ac.uk.
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