AMERSHAM & WYCOMBE COLLEGE IN A LEAGUE OF ITS OWN

From the new semester, the College will work in conjunction with the Blues’ very well respected Football In The Community (FITC) programme for 2010/11 to offer students some of the best sports provisions in the country. It’s a relationship that will place the College at the forefront of Further Education for aspiring young footballers between the ages of 16-19.

After winning the English Colleges’ League last year, and having never finished outside of the top 3 of the Conference Youth League in the last five years, the College is once again looking to up its game, like Chelsea, to be the ‘best of the best’, and pool talent from south Bucks and the surrounding areas.

Martin Dean, Head of Sport and Public Services at the College, said: “Our collaboration with Chelsea is testament to the dedication and work of those at the College, which has enabled us to take yet another huge leap forward to offer students a unique environment to learn within.

“Chelsea are renowned for bringing the best out of players, both on and off the pitch. Therefore, working closely with their FITC programme, along with our head coach Peter Scott (ex-Fulham, AFC Bournemouth and Barnet), Venezuelan international and Aldershot Town goalkeeper Mikhael Jamiez-Ruiz and our other highly qualified tutors, will provide students with a great opportunity to advance their careers through sport,” added Dean.

In response, Chelsea’s FITC community director Shaun Gore says: “We are absolutely delighted to be working with Amersham and Wycombe College. We believe with hard work, dedication and passion we can generate a number of positive outcomes for both parties.”

Those successfully enrolled on the College's sports courses - level 1 (Intro Diploma-Sport & Active Leisure), 2 (First Diploma Sport) and 3 (Extended Diploma-Development, Coaching and Fitness), will, from September, be kitted out in Blues’ training-wear and able to use Chelsea's state-of-the-art training facility in Cobham. Altogether, it will aid students’ mental, physical, tactical, technical, social, emotional and career development.

The courses provide 8-12 hours of coaching per week from highly qualified coaches - two out of three who hold the prestigious UEFA ‘A’ grade. Students will also compete in the Conference Youth League, English Colleges’ Football League (ECFA) and English Schools’ Football Association (ESFA) National Colleges’ Trophy.

College courses will also open the doors to those wishing to undertake careers in the sport and leisure industry such as physiotherapy, sports coaching, sports development, sports teaching or further their education at university, including the possibility of U.S. Scholarships – providing opportunities on both sides of the field.

“Our commitment is to provide each student with a well rounded and robust sense of what it’s like to live the life of a trainee footballer, at the same time as nurturing them towards a career in the sport and leisure industry,” explained Dean. “The courses are particularly suitable for those who are serious about achieving a recognised qualification through sport, whilst developing their football abilities to compete at a higher level,” he added.

For information on how to apply, please contact Martin Dean on 01494 585374, or emailmdean@amersham.ac.uk.Alternatively, please go to www.amersham.ac.uk