A BOROUGH football academy is going from strength to strength following the town’s promotion to the highest tier of non-league football this season.
Solihull College and University Centre’s Football Academy gives students the chance to study and follow their passion for the ‘beautiful game’ at the same time.
As well as studying towards their College qualification, the students worked towards their FA Coaching badges and gained work experience in schools.
Following in the footsteps of the Moors, the College and University Centre now has three teams – including a reserve team at Under 19 level – playing in the Midland Division Three, which is an open age league.
The Under 19s have already started the 2016/17 season in fine style, securing four wins out of their opening five matches.
Furthermore, Academy players Tyrese Shade and James Metford are currently on trial at Huddersfield while Kieran Dawes has been scouted by Birmingham City.
As well as this, academy player Marshall Willock has already been to Birmingham City and Josh Parsons is about to go to Coventry City.
More locally, Romario Martin is already stamping his mark on the National League with the Solihull Moors having appeared in the first team on multiple occasions this season already.
Academy Manager, Mark Fogarty said: “This is a great opportunity for players to come and develop their game alongside their education.
“With Solihull Moors playing at their highest ever level and the strongest backroom team we’ve ever had, this is the perfect time for players at the academy to make their mark and really push for an opportunity in the first team.”
The Academy, which is now almost two decades old, is run for both male and female players in partnership with Solihull Moors and Birmingham City Ladies.
Many of these students now work full-time in sport or in schools and many went on to play professionally including Aaron Brown at Reading FC and Wigan’s Will Grigg.
Visit www.solihull.ac.uk for further information about the academy or call 0121 678 7000.
