Kidlington Football Club are delighted to announced that they have joined the Southern League Football Academy (SLFA) - the brand new education and football academy of the Evo-Stik South.

An Education and Football Academy side for 16-18 year olds will be created at Kidlington FC and play in the SLFA with opportunities to play in the FA Youth Cup from September 2019.

The SLFA is the sister programme of the impressive NPL Football Academy (NPLFA) for fellow step seven league – The Evo-Stik Northern Premier League – and we are now on the lookout for talented and committed young footballers who are eager to take their first steps to a career in the semi-professional game and more importantly study to earn educational qualifications.

The Kidlington FC Academy is a full-time course which is an alternative to college where students will study for a BTEC in Sport at Level 2 or Level 3 (Diploma and Extended Diploma available which is the equivalent to two/three A Levels) which will be delivered by a tutor in the mornings before a UEFA qualified football coach will train the students in the afternoons as well as manage the side on Wednesday afternoons against fellow SLFA sides such as Frome Town, Chesham United and Swindon Supermarine. All games will take place at the main grounds of all the Evo-Stik South clubs involved and filmed for analysis with the weekly highlights show that is published every Friday evening.

It's sister programme – the NPLFA - has been a huge success on and off the pitch with over 750 students enrolling over the past four years and many of those progressing onto university, scholarships in the US, the programmes own sports degree course or employment and as of October 2018, fifty students have progressed to their respective first teams with two students progressing to the professional game and that success will now be implemented in the South.

By being a part of Kidlington FC, there are genuine pathways to play for the first team and with the football programme being held between Monday and Friday, students will still be able to play for their local junior sides at the weekend.

Nick Duval, Chair of Trustees commented “There have been many attempts around Oxfordshire to promote Football Academies with varying degrees of success. Naturally aspiring young footballers see this a wonderful opportunity, but the fundamental difference is the quality of the education programme to be delivered here. Parents will be impressed with the professional approach adopted by the Southern League Football Academy. I certainly have been”

Barry Hiles from Kidlington FC Development added “This, for me, is the missing piece in the jigsaw. To provide the club and the local area with a professionally run academy, giving the opportunity to develop both in football and in education, is exactly what the Football Club and the village has needed for years. Having the academy underpinned by Loughborough College, who are world renowned for their educational expertise, is the icing on the cake!”

Andy Fuller, first team manager of Kidlington FC concluded “The future of small clubs has to come from within. Without these academy’s clubs won’t survive. As we can see from our u18 side there are some very good young players for the future. And if we don’t add an academy to our structure these players potentially will go and benefit other clubs who do have.”

There are a maximum of twenty-two places available for the Kidlington FC Academy with trials to be arranged in October 2018, December 2018, February 2019, April 2019 and May 2019.

The first trial will take place on FRIDAY 26TH OCTOBER, from 10.30AM – 12PM at KIDLINGTON FC, YARNTON ROAD, KIDLINGTON, OX5 1AT.

Trialists will need to bring full training kit (your own), shin pads, boots suitable for grass surface, trainers for the gym and a drink.

To register your interest in the Academy, please complete the application form at theslfa.co.uk/register

For more information on the SLFA, please visit the following sites:-

www.theslfa.co.uk
www.facebook.com/SLFAcademy/
www.twitter.com/SLFAcademy
www.instagram.com/SLFAcademy