Town team add new partnership to our youth development program
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is pleased to announce a partnership with Herefordshire and Ludlow Colleges to add to our existing youth development programme.
Hereford and Ludlow Colleges currently play in the Midland College League.
Our partnership will facilitate a move into the Premier College League next season playing against college teams associated with Premier League and Football League Clubs including the likes of Chelsea, Spurs and Fulham.
Our former striker Gary Stevens, along with Colin Williams, head the Hereford and Ludlow College programme which is a two year residential football programme that has previously been affiliated with Hereford United and Cheltenham Town.
Manager Graham Turner was keen to renew his links with Gary and Colin.
He said: "In the early years of my tenure as chairman/manager at Hereford United, we could not finance a youth development programme and so we linked up with the college who ran the scheme under the name of Hereford United.
“During a difficult financial period at the club we had a programme at no cost, but we were part of the Football League and FA Youth competitions.
“The club subsequently signed five boys as professionals including Andy Williams, now at Yeovil Town, who Hereford sold to Bristol Rovers for a substantial fee.
“Here at Shrewsbury Town we have a Category Three Academy which has been productive, currently we have four players in the team, and seven in the squad, who have progressed through the scheme.
“The involvement with Hereford and Ludlow Colleges will not cost this club anything, but will dovetail into our overall youth recruitment and development programme.”