Visiting as part of FETA was Manchester Academy graduate Saif Javed (a school leaver in July, 2013) who has earned a scholarship to play and study with them for the next two years.
As an alternative to Sixth Form, FETA offers training and development for young budding footballers that are different to your everyday at college. They are based in world class training facilities at the Armitage Sports Centre in Fallowfield, Manchester.
Year 11 students that are due to start post-16 education in September 2014 were given an insight into what FETA is and what they will be learning whilst studying as part of an internationally recognised institution.
The Football Education & Training Academy was established in March 2012 with the initial concept in the planning stage a year or so before.
FETA Managing Director, Paul McGuire via his experience in the professional game, felt there was a serious lack of cohesion in terms of approach to the development of young football players and how this relates to them developing as young people with aspirations.
The Academy has been established with the aim of guiding more young people into further education whilst endeavouring to create an environment equivalent to any top class football academy.
FETA have a vision to roll the academy out nationwide in order to create a directory of young people/young football players beyond the only current viable alternative which is more centred around an elite football frame work.
FETA feels it is crucial to develop a broad range of partnerships in order to create the best possible environment for young people to develop.
FETA places great emphasis on establishing a range of enriching programmes including options such as travelling abroad and work experience for all students at the academy.
Manchester Academy Year 11 students were given an inspirational workshop that gave them all the necessary details in how to apply for FETA’s Football Academy Scholarship.
This scholarship will offer successful students the chance to play football while studying for a BTEC Level 3 Extended National Diploma, as well as representing Macclesfield Town FC at professional level.
After studying, successful students will be given the opportunity to play the professional game in the USA and Spain.
Scholarships in USA based colleges are proving a great option for appropriate people. There are so many opportunities that can open up for talented young players in the USA and many have found this route to be a great stepping stone to become a professional athlete or even a coach.
A scholarship to the USA is a unique means of financing an academic and sporting future, and a great opportunity to live, study and play football in the USA.
FETA has a link with the Spanish football team, Athletic Bilbao with opportunities to take players/teams over to Spain to compete in various events. FETA believes that oversees trips are a great learning curve for young people and the chance to explore new cultures both footballing and social is a perfect way to develop as an individual.
All coaches/teachers at FETA have spent time abroad playing and coaching football and know that a world of opportunity lies within every young person’s reach.
The Enabling Employability team at Manchester Academy will be assisting all interested footballers in Year 11, with an interest in this form of further education, throughout the application process right through to the interview stage.
We would like to thank all staff at FETA for their time in offering our students such an exciting alternative to college, and for inspiring our students to reach their career aspiration in sport.
We look forward to continue working with FETA and building our partnerships for the future.
Aiden Lucas
Enabling Employability