Ambitious Vickers join Conference youth elite

ANOTHER Kent club will be fielding a youth side in the Conference Youth League next season, writes Stephen McCartney,

Ambitious Bulmers Cider Kent League club VCD Athletic have today unveiled a working partnership with Cleeve Park School to create an exciting opportunity for young footballers.

“The academy has been set up to develop young players aged between 16 and 18 years, providing them with an opportunity to play at Conference Youth Level, whilst continuing with their academic studies,” academy manager Alan Seamons told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“The academy will start in August 2009 and players will enrol for a two-year period, during which time they will take their level 1 and 2 coaching qualifications as well as the BTEC level 3 National Diploma in sport.

“The BTEC level 3 is a nationally recognised award and is valued as the equivalent of 3 A levels.”

All home games will be played at VCD Athletic’s ground at Old Road, Crayford on Wednesday afternoon’s, playing in the Conference Youth League.

The pioneering first Kent club to join this set-up were Blue Square Premier outfit Ebbsfleet United, but local side Cray Wanderers, who currently play one division higher than the Vickers, have also confirmed their intentions to join and Dartford are current members.

“VCD are an ambitious club and are looking to develop quality players to feed into their senior teams at a young age,” added Seamons.

All training, coaching and studying will take place at Cleeve Park School in neighbouring Sidcup.

Seamons, an UEFA A Licensed coach, FA coach educator and assessor, will be assisted by Jack Parkinson, 19, who holds a FA coaching licence level three and currently plays Blue Square South football for neighbouring Welling United.

There will be an opportunity to obtain further details of the academy and courses and to meet the staff at the Cleeve Park Open Evening on Monday, 16 March 2009.

For information on application forms and the opening night, please contact the school on 0208 302 6418 or Alan Seamons on 07958 459 227.

Prospective players will need to attend trials, which will be held over two days during the Easter break on Tuesday 7^th and Thursday 9^th April 2009.

“Students will be assessed on their playing ability and will also need to provide academic reports and grades/predicted grades for GCSE,” added Seamons.

Visit VCD Athletic's website: www.vcd-athletic.co.uk

Visit Cleeve Park School website: www.cleevepark.org