Changes to our Academy

During the summer we have experienced a period of significant change and as these changes now come to fruition, a timely update is required.

In early June, our education provider for the past three years, SCL Education Group, served notice that it would be terminating its agreement to provide education at the end of August 2024. SCL as a business will be putting its focus behind its larger academies with 55+ students and SRFC does not fall into this category. We have always made provision for this situation and did initially have discussions with other local academies with an option to work closely together sharing education and facilities for the benefit of all. In tandem we held discussions with other providers, and we can now confirm that Juniper Training will provide educational provision for the coming and future academic years.

Juniper is a well-established education and training provider with almost 40 years’ experience. Full details of the educational course provided will be available on the web site shortly for any interested students and parents/guardians for the intake period September 2025. In summary Juniper will provide the same NCFE level education provided by SCL so there is no change for existing scholars. The course, when completed is the equivalent of three A* A-Levels giving students the option for university application, USA football scholarship application, graduate trainee opportunities or indeed the opportunity to remain as a third-year student focusing on the Personal Trainer option.

As a result of the changes, we say a fond good-bye to our tutor, Adam Cook, who remains with SCL in a new role at Chesterfield FC. We would like to thank Adam for all his hard work in ensuring that our scholars received the best possible level of education, and he leaves with a heavy heart but our best wishes and luck in his new venture.

Replacing Adam is David Gould, who will not only take up the role of tutor but that of football coach to the academy. David is no stranger to SRFC having been appointed Under 16s JPL manager at the start of last season. David is now manager of our Under 18s MFYL team. As a EUFA B licensed coach David has over 25 years’ experience and will be a major asset to the club. In addition, David is a teacher and recently undertook similar roles at Basford United FC and Long Eaton United FC. As Academy Manager David will be directly employed by Juniper but will also undertake project work for the football club under the direction of Andy Fearn.

Joining David will be our first ever Football Club Management Apprentice, Kyle Glayshier. Kyle has been a student at the academy for three years and now moves into a fourth year under the tutorship of Juniper to enhance his coaching and managerial skills. As part of this program, Kyle, already a Level 1 coach will assist David with academy training and team management, and he will also work on projects within the football club centering around football administration, finance, and infrastructure.

Education, as always will take place on site, but has moved into the “Fans Bar,” which has always been a redundant weekday facility. This is a secure environment for educational purposes and with thanks to Mark and Ben Alcock and lottery funding the facility has been improved to provide full internet/Wi-Fi access, better heating, and security. We must emphasize that this is an ALCOHOL-FREE facility during the week and is kitted out as a classroom. At weekends, the room can revert to its bar status if required.

If you are a potential student or parent/guardian interested in joining the academy scholarship program commencing September 2025 a series of recruitment trials will be held across the year, commencing Monday 28th October 2024.

More information can be obtained by email:

David.gould@staffordrangersfc.co.uk

Kyle.glayshier@staffordrangersfc.co.uk

Andy.fearn@staffordrangersfc.co.uk

Stafford Rangers FC