The NPL Football Academy (NPLFA) is delighted to announce that Matlock Town student Jack Bradley is progressing to university to study Sports Coaching and Analysis.
Jack joined the programme in 2016 will now begin his course at Derby University next month. “I have gained a place at Derby University studying Sports Coaching and Analysis for 2-3 years. My ambition is to work full time teaching sport whether that’s in a school as a PE teacher or as a coach at a football club”
The goalkeeper has had an enjoyable experience in the past two years with the run in to last season standing out “My time at Matlock has been very enjoyable. Being part of a full-time academy set up, training everyday with some high quality players and coaches has been my favourite part of the experience and I’ve looked to take on board as much as possible during my time in order to help make me a better player and coach. The final few games on the run up to the end of the 2017/18 season will definitely be the highlight for me.
“With there being a lot of games in the final weeks the squad changed around almost every game in order for players to be rested which can make it tough to find any kind of consistency with how you play. All the lads had to band together and work hard for each other in order to get the results we wanted and we finished strongly at the end of the season. To end it by being part of the cup final winning squad at Stoke’s ground for our final academy game showed how far the players, staff and the club had come in such a short space of time and was a very proud moment for everyone involved.”
Now entering the next chapter of his life, Jack has some advice for students who wish to follow in his footsteps. “Depending on what you want to move into for a career then I would recommend the NPLFA. The programme and Matlock’s academy set up very much suited my needs and has helped me come out of the two years with knowledge and experience that with help me progress further in my career. For anyone looking to join the NPLFA at one of their academies you need to be willing to work hard. Keep your standards high and do the basics right and you will give yourself the best possible chance of getting to where you want to be”
Everyone at the NPLFA would like to wish Jack the very best of luck in Derby, we look forward to catching up with him on his first year of university in 2019.
