FC United's continued commitment to Youth Development

Alongside the exciting developments of our new ground and training and community facilities, FC United are to launch a full time Youth Scholars Programme based at Broadhurst Park.

The FC United Youth Scholars Programme follows a similar model to youth structures in the professional game and talented 16-18 year old players have been identified and will be part of FC United on a full time basis, completing an academic programme of study each morning in the classrooms at Broadhurst Park and training every afternoon on our 3G training facility. The FC United Youth Team will also compete in the Football Conference Youth Alliance League on Wednesday afternoons and the club has also entered The FA Youth Cup for the first time in our history.

FC United Board Member, Alison Watt, said “FC United’s fans and co-owners take great pride in watching our own players come through the ranks, so it is amazing to be starting up this project, which will give young players a chance to grow within our club. In our short history, we have already seen several of our youth and development team graduates play for our first team and every support will be given to this scholars initiative in order to continue that kind of progression.???

Club representatives attended the Football League Exit Trials at Leeds United’s Thorpe Arch in February, and also invited trialists to player recruitment events. As a result, the club has recruited 24 players, aged 16 years old, for the Youth Scholars Programme. Of the 24 players recruited, 22 have been at professional clubs and were released at the age of 16. The FC United Youth Scholars programme is providing opportunities for these players to gain a full time scholarship at a football club and to continue on their development pathway in football.

FC United Academy Manager, Paul Bright, said “These really are exciting times for our club and the aim of the FC United Youth Programme is to develop young players as footballers and as people by developing their technical, tactical, physical, psychological and academic skills set. The product of this investment in youth development will hopefully be players reaching the level of our first team or linked back into the professional game, but more importantly the programme will give the scholars positive life skills to be a success in whatever career path they choose.???

Overseeing the youth scholars training and development programme alongside Academy Manager, Paul Bright, will be Head of Academy Coaching, Chuks Akuneto. Chuks had a fantastic season winning the Lancashire Galaxy League and Cup Double in the team’s inaugural season, and the youth scholars will massively benefit from being on the pitch with Chuks on a daily basis. FC United will also continue to run the Development Squad and will switch from the Lancashire Galaxy East to Lancashire Galaxy West League in order to continue developing our U21 players. Rhodri Giggs will act as Development Squad Manager and Richard Brown will continue as Assistant Manager, with the pair working closely with Paul and Chuks to ensure players have opportunities to progress and develop through FC United’s player pathway model.

As well as training up to 12 hours per week, the FC United Youth Scholars will be enrolled on the Football Education and Apprenticeship Pathway and complete an Apprenticeship in Sports and Community Coaching. The academic course will consist of scholars studying BTEC Level 3 in Sport, NVQ Level 2 Activity Leadership, NVQ Level 3 Sports Development and FA Level 2 Coaching Certificates.

First Team Manager, Karl Marginson added “The scholarship programme will ensure that these young players receive quality coaching and training linked into our club’s playing philosophy, will learn about the formation, values and community ethos our club represents, and will also receive high quality academic tuition to develop their skills for possible careers away from football. From a coaching and playing stand point, the full time youth programme will also hopefully increase the standards and ability of young players in our system and provide players who have the ability to play in our first team or back into the professional game and give the club further options on a playing front.???

Fans, members and co-owners will be kept updated on the development of the FC United Youth Scholars and Development Squad through the website and regular reviews in the coming seasons FCUM Review.

List of FC United Youth Scholars:

Goalkeepers
Ben Jupp
Alec Robinson

Defenders
Daniel Cooke
Nathan Chorlton
Jacob Holt
Brandon Quintino
Callum Jones
Adam Lockett
Dominik Williams
Billy Nugent

Midfielders
Zac Cooper
Omar Benali
Jack Tinning
Ryan Botell
Robson Buckley
Sam Summerbee
Lewis Stonehouse
Max Hayes
Toby Wright

Attackers
Jake Shawcross
Callum Hughes
Adam Taylor
Rhys Coogan
Harry Lee