United consider college partnership

The scheme, which could start from September 2012, would bring United in line with other progressive semi-professional football clubs.

The Education Scholarship Scheme will offer opportunities for post 16 students to pursue both their academic and football interests side by side.

The scheme would be ideal for students keen to pursue a career involving football or to develop their footballing potential while preparing for university or careers in other areas.

The students would train at the sports college, which has fostered a number of professional footballers, under coaches provided by the club and the college, and represent United’s under-18 team as well as the college.

The coaching would also provide opportunities for students to gain coaching and leadership qualifications in

football. The academic courses would be selected from those offered in the Parkwood 6th form, including A level PE and BTEC Sport.

Applicants would need to meet the entry requirements of the college and the playing level required by United as in the long term the desire is to produce footballers capable of playing at Football Conference Youth League level with the opportunity of eventual progression to United’s first team squad.

Anyone interested in finding out more information should email their contact details and a brief précis of their football and educational background to Nessling at [email protected]. The closing date for initially registering interest is October 31.