News: First Gold Standard partnership with Notts County Football Club

The partnership will see the College being the educational partners of the Notts County FC Academy and will provide a true footballing and educational experience for the successful recruits. Timetabling is scheduled for 12 hours of professional training and fitness with the Academy staff at NCFC and full curriculum provision by Nottingham College sports staff. This unique and exciting partnership will start on 6^th September 2021.

Education is based at the Meadow Lane stadium and the practical academy aspect is based at Clifton and Meadow Lane. 

For details, please contact: Dan Leivers: dan.​leivers@​nottscountyfc.​co.​uk

Fast Track and Faculty Area Manager, Gary Horsley, said: ​“This is a really exciting step for us as a college and really gets us back into the Academy development structure at the elite level. 

“We have a long history of such partnerships and this will really provide the young players with the best footballing experience and a true education offer to build up both aspects for the learners. 

“My academic staffing team have run the LFE backed academy programme for County over a number of years, we have seen players like Haydn Hollis, Curtis Thompson and Colby Bishop make great careers in football but also realise the importance of the academic side for those that don’t quite make it in football after their programme. This partnership and programme provides the best of both worlds.” 

Josh Bradshaw, Lead Tutor, comments: ​“We are really excited to start this partnership and it will build on all our expertise that has been developed via the LFE scheme and running similar academies over the years. The learners will get first-class footballing development and education that is not seen as a bolt on – education is exactly as important as the footballing side and the club and College will ensure that the learners develop in both aspects. 

“The added voluntary experience that NCFC will offer the learners will be crucial in creating such an exciting curriculum and we are very excited to get started. This has potential to lead onto many other avenues that as a college we hope will follow into a female academy and also provision at higher education level too.” 

Ollie Judd, Fast Track Manager, comments: ​“The mission, vision and values from NCFC fit directly into the intentions of our Fast Track Academy and we are delighted that this will be the first Gold Standard Academy for us. We have other sports that will hopefully follow this format for a start in September in 2022 and will continue to grow with years to come.” 

Download the Notts County Elite Football Academy Programme Brochure.

For details on how to trial for the NCFC Academy, please email: dan.​leivers@​nottscountyfc.​co.​uk

Visit social for more:

Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube

For Fast Track Academy details, please contact: Gary Horsley at Nottingham College.

Nottingham College recently launched this new Fast Track Academy. It’s designed to help Sport students explore the full range of sports careers and to connect them to teams, clubs and individuals who are making their mark in the sports industry locally and regionally.

Together, and through our Fast Track Academy, we are able to offer Sport students a full range of experiences in different sports. 

There are different membership levels for organisations (bronze, silver and gold). These are all designed to link up our students with the sporting industry.