The Education and Semi-Professional Football Academy (ESPFA) and North West Counties League club Stafford Town are delighted to have joined in a footballing partnership with the ESPFA Staffordshire.
The ESPFA is a full-time education and football study programme associated with non-league football clubs across the UK for 16-18 year olds as an alternative to traditional college education.
The programme is part of ESPFA Staffordshire, one of 12 regions in the national programme.
Based at Evans Park, students joining the full-time programme will study for a BTEC in Sport Level 3 Extended Diploma, train three times a week with UEFA qualified coaches and represent Stafford Town FC in the ESPFA league and cup competitions with all league games being filmed and taking place at the main stadia of all associated clubs involved.
Students also have the opportunity to experience the world of sport with coaching, teaching, photography, filming, media editing, business, hospitality, journalism, physiotherapy and podcasting with the football club and the ESPFA.
There are a number of pathways available on the football side with 63 ESPFA students having made their first team debut and over 200 ESPFA students graduating to higher education such as university, US scholarship and the programme’s own bespoke degree course since 2014.
An ESPFA spokesmen commented “We are delighted to have entered a partnership with Stafford Town which will begin immediately for the 2021/22 football season. The facilities at Evans Park which will host the ESPFA study and training elements of the programme are fantastic and will be a huge benefit to the ESPFA Staffordshire students experience. The club have a thriving youth set up and an ambitious first team which will provide ESPFA Staffordshire students with an excellent pathway opportunity into mens football and we are looking forward to a long and successful football partnership”
Paul Beedell, Chairman of Stafford Town FC added “We are pleased to announce an exciting partnership with the ESPFA. A missing link to our progressive club offering great facilities along with football and education and importantly a pathway for the ESPFA Staffordshire students to progress. We look forward to a long partnership with the ESPFA along with developing the students into successful football players and qualifications that will benefit them in the future. The newly formed partnership begins now, the future and sustainability of the club also takes another step forward”
Interested applicants who have just left school or are progressing to year 11 in September should register their details at espfa.co.uk/register
Welcome Stafford!