April 2011

College and Football Club Team Up In Academy Partnership

Stourbridge College and Kidderminster Harriers Football Club have teamed up to create two unique partnership academies with the ultimate goal of getting young people trained and qualified for work in the sports and hospitality industries. The new Football and Hospitality Academies will offer training opportunities for 16 year olds (and upwards) that will serve them well in the hospitality industry and help them reach the top of their game in the competitive world of football.

Lynette Cutting, Principal at Stourbridge College, said: “Preparing young people for the world of work is a priority for us and our new partnership with professional football club, Kidderminster Harriers, is unique in that it offers our students training in a real working environment. We will be recruiting apprentices for our Hospitality Academy and looking for top class footballers to join the Football Academy – all of whom will be supported through a variety of courses to help them prepare for careers in sport or catering.”

Mark Serrell, Club Chairman, said: “This new partnership is the perfect reflection of the new lease of life that has been given to the club this season – both on and off the pitch. Looking specifically at the Football Academy, any team wants to do what it can to produce more home grown talent and, over a period of time, our ambition is to have youngsters coming through the system who can establish themselves as Harriers’ players. And we will have the added bonus of being able to offer first class hospitality services for our committed fans and business customers.”

The partnership also has the endorsement of Aston Villa Football Club Ambassador, Ian Taylor, who had a 15-year career in the Football League and Premier League after coming through Youth ranks to play non-league football at Moor Green in the early 1990s.

Taylor said: “I know from experience how hard it can be to get into the game, especially at this level, and having partnerships like this one on the go can only help young people today. There is a lot of talent in the Midlands area and hopefully some more of it can be found.

“Football Academies nowadays put a lot of emphasis on the educational side of things and that is so important. Whatever career you go for it is vital to have that education to fall back on and that’s where this sort of partnership can be so beneficial.”

 

Notes

1. The Academies will be officially launched during the week beginning 9th May when football trials and an official hospitality interview and selection process will be held at the Aggborough Stadium – more information to follow and press/media attention will be welcome at this event

2. All training will be undertaken at Kidderminster Harriers Football Club and in the Kidderminster area

3. Stourbridge College and Kidderminster Harriers will promote the new Academies in local schools through the successful Football in the Community charity scheme.

 

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