Shrewsbury Town

The Sport Department at Walford and North Shropshire College (WNSC) is continuing its growth with the exciting announcement of a new boys and girls Football Scholarship in partnership with Shrewsbury Town Football Club (STFC).

Principal Andrew Tyley comments, "We are delighted to be able to extend further our sport curriculum offer in partnership with Shrewsbury Town. The new football programmes starting at Walford this summer will complement the existing Centre of Excellence and Futsal programmes which are already well established, producing professional players such as Joe Hart and Dave Edwards. This new venture is a win-win for the College, the Club and - above all - young people who want to combine sports studies with their passion for football."

Often for girls and boys at 16/17 at the end of Junior Football or at the culmination of leaving a centre of excellence or Development Centre, there is a lack of opportunity for them to continue their development, progressing to a high level of the football pyramid. This Scholarship opportunity aims to give aspirational footballers the chance to continue their football development alongside achieving a full level 2 or 3 academic qualification (A Levels, L2/L3 Extended Diploma in Sport). 

The benefits of the Scholarship include; achieving recognised qualifications that set-up students for university or employment, improving technically, tactically and physically as a player, competing within high level Midlands leagues that would not be available post-16 in the Shrewsbury area and also, players are still free to sign for their local Sunday or Midweek football club.

Martin James, Head of Human Resources and Community Development at STFC is really positive about the news and comments, ‘This is an exciting development for Walford and North Shropshire College and Shrewsbury Town is delighted to endorse the development of football in all of its forms. We hope that this new venture will attract male and female footballers form across the county.’

There are even more benefits for the Scholars which include; a free-home STFC match day ticket, the opportunity to help out at the ground on match days, the opportunity to undertake additional football coaching qualifications, being coached by STFC fully UEFA qualified staff and training and playing in STFC colours.

If the Scholarship sounds a great option for Sep 2014, you can find out more now! STFC is hosting a dedicated evening for interested boys and girls who would like to find out more about this exciting Scholarship. The evening is taking place on 11th February at 6.30pm at the Club’s Football Ground, The Greenhous Meadow, there is no need to book although an indication of attendance by email would be welcome. Dan Stevens, Head of Department for Sport at WNSC will be available on the evening for people to speak to about the academic qualification and the football coaching elements and commented ‘Adding this provision to our recently launched Sport Coaching Degree programme further develops our commitment to being an elite hub for sporting excellence both academically and practically, complimenting all our other existing sport qualifications with clear pathways for students right from Level 1 to Level 6 at the college. We would expect a strong interest from existing FE students and year 11 leavers so would urge applicants to contact us as soon as possible’.

The College also has its Spring Open Events coming up, and those interested are invited to come along to find out more. The Oswestry Open Evening is Thursday 13th February 5.30pm-8pm and the Walford Open Day is Saturday 8th February from 10am-2pm.

To contact Dan Stevens, Head of Sport, call 01691 688084 or email d.stevens@wnsc.ac.uk