Football Futures Group is pleased to announce its exciting new partnership with Access Sport College and Morecambe FC Academy, supporting young aspiring footballers in Central Manchester to develop as players to their highest ability, whilst continuing their further and higher education with a focus on future careers within the exciting sport and football industries.
Based at the Armitage Sports Center (also used by the University of Manchester) The Football Futures Education Programme will be powered by the country’s largest private training provider, Access Sport (Access Creative), Delivering pathways onto careers in coaching, sports science, performance analysis and sports media.
From a player development pathway and headed up by ex-professional footballer Paul McGuire, Football Futures will work alongside Morecambe FC Academy to help find and nurture young talent throughout the region, who otherwise may have given up on a dream of making it as a professional footballer.
Speaking about this partnership, Paul McGuire from Football Futures said:
“I’ve been running college football programmes for over a decade now, with some great success both on and off the pitch, and I felt now was the right time to freshen things up.
“I myself came through this exact type of model in 1997 at the Manchester Hub, which was run by Alan Keeling and the then Morecambe Manager, Jim Harvey, and I personally went on to have several enjoyable seasons with the Academy and then with the senior team.
“With the introduction of our new Morecambe FC Football Futures site in Manchester and working closely with our colleagues at the football club and Access Sport College, I hope to do the same for many young players over the coming seasons, providing life skills, education, and a solid learning environment for all players to improve and enjoy their years as a youth player.”
“We’re absolutely thrilled to partner with Access Sport, and I believe it’s the perfect partnership to build a sustainable and successful college football programme in the center of Manchester”.
“I can safely say after exploring many options and opportunities, Access Sport was our number one choice and with their already hugely successful programmes across the country, we felt there was no better option.”
Gary Judge – Director of Sport (Access Sport)
“We are delighted to have agreed this partnership with The Football Futures Group to deliver a football education programme in central Manchester.
Combining our expertise in further and higher education with such a renowned, experienced and forward thinking football development programme in Football Futures will only create enhanced learning and development opportunities for those who join the programme in September.
Our further education programme inspires students to fulfil their potential by using their passion for football or sport to develop personal, professional and transferable skills, promote health and wellbeing and achieve recognised academic qualifications that will support in their progression onto higher education, U.S Scholarships, apprenticeships and direct employment.”
