Kent football academy EMC Academy is looking for players for September's scholarship programme

A football scholarship programme which has moved into Kent is looking for potential teenage players for September.

EMC Academy, which also runs soccer schools and weekly football academies, says it aims to bridge the gap between grassroots football and the professional game.

For the last four seasons its post-16 scholarship programme has been running in Crowborough, East Sussex but has now found a new home in Tunbridge Wells.

It is now on the lookout for prospective students for next term - many of whom will have found exams, schooling and learning in disarray over the past 12 weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Academy manager Henry Muggeridge, who represented England at the six-a-side World Cup last year, said: "Our Scholarship Programme will now run as independent football academy.

"This means we can now use our contact list, which ranges from the English Football League down to step six, to find the players on our programme the right level of football."

Students will emerge from the two-year scholarship programme, now based at the Rackliff Centre in Rusthall, with a B-Tec sport qualification.

They will work and train with UEFA A licensed coaches, compete in a national youth league and cup competition, playing fixtures against junior sections of Premier League clubs - and embarking on a mid-season tour to Marbella.

Time at the academy will include training every day, video appraisals and GPS performance analysis, alongside a nutritional programme and weight training.

EMC says there have been considerable success stories from former players with some now on scholarships at American universities and others working for the programme full time.

Henry stressed that the programme offers a 'proven option' for those who may be struggling in mainstream education.

"We’ve had boys come through our programme who schools and other clubs hadn’t offered anything to due to their behaviour or grades" he said.

"Then we’ve managed to completely turn their fortunes around and get them on the straight and narrow again.

"We’ve had other lads who had been expelled from their schools come into us, who no one else would offer a place to, who have now gone on to universities in the UK and abroad.

"We find a different way to motivate young players - our man management is second to none, and we bring out the best in them" he explained.

Alongside success on the football pitch the Academy says there is a 97% pass ratio for the academic course.

Henry, who also played for Bristol City, said that EMC's work ethic is a key part in inspiring youngsters.

The EMC staff boasts former professional players John Paul Kissock and Teddy Bloor, as well as England six-a-side manager Jamie Leggett.

There are 10 places available at the new centre, but with much of the lockdown still in place, EMC expects to hold Skype interviews where it can't see players in person who are looking to sign up for September.

Any current Year 11, 12 or 13 students interested in joining the programme should call 07894 823459 or email admin@emc-academy.co.uk to express an interest in an interview.

For more information families can also visit emc-academy.co.uk/post-16-scholarship-programme

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