Talent-spotting York City have plugged in to a new production-line of potential.

In an enterprising move the club are to throw their lot into the launch of the new York College Football Academy, which teams education with the professional game.

Under the scheme at York College of Further and Higher Education students aged between 16 and 19, who combine a high level of footballing ability with commitment, will undertake full-time vocational qualifications as a compulsory part of either one-year or two-year programmes.

They will also will reap the benefits of the tie-up with City. Club staff will coach the youngsters aged between 16 and 19 and City's training facilities at the Wigginton Road training complex will be open to the Academy.

As part of the link City will get first crack at any promising youngsters whose talent may blossom within the scheme, which is open to an area encompassing Yorkshire and Humberside.

City chairman Douglas Craig, manager Alan Little, and the club's head of youth development Adie Shaw, all hailed the undertaking as a valuable addition to the club's already well-established youth programme.

Enthused the City chairman: "There is a need to widen opportunities to young players to develop their football skills to the full and at the same time further their individual educational needs.

"It is a great delight to all of us at the club to have assisted in the creation of York College's Football Academy.

"We intend to continue our liaison with the College by seizing every opportunity to make our professional coaching staff and facilities available to students at the Academy."

The scheme will start at York College in August before when there will be trials next month and also in May and June to determine those able enough to take up the 24 places on the initial intake. A review of the first year could see an increase in the intake, plus the possible establishment of a girls' Academy.

Said Tony Outhart, the College's curriculum manager for hospitality and leisure, and himself a former professional player with Scarborough: "It's fantastic to be linked with our local professional club. This tie-up will prove a major strength of the Academy.

"The first club we approached was York City given their excellent track record in youth development. And right through from the chairman to the management through to the coaching staff the support has been first-class."

He insisted it was not a guarantee to a professional contract. But the scheme would offer the chance of a tie-up with the Minstermen or other professional clubs, plus semi-professional outfits such as Harrogate Town, Guiseley, Selby Town, Tadcaster Albion, besides providing a major educational qualification.

Explaining that the Academy also was not a competitor to the existing Professional Footballers' Association scholarship scheme, Outhart believed the York Academy's major strength was its flexibility. "It offers courses from Foundation through to degree level."

The College has identified several groups for whom the Academy would be ideal to combine education with a possible opening into football, though not always with a professional club.

Added Outhart: "The main groups are those who have missed out on a place on the PFA's scheme at professional clubs in the region; referrals from York City; those who have been completed or released from their PFA scheme and not gained a contract; and those who prefer to combine playing with a full-time education programme."

To supplement the training strength at the Academy the College are to appoint an FA qualified coach with experience as professional player.

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