Richard Luscombe THE football season ended with our education squad at Home Park finishing a respectable sixth in the National Youth League.
Coached by the vastly experienced former Pilgrim Lee Hodges and Matt Scholes, the course has provided these talented footballers with opportunities to compete against professional clubs all over the country and to keep the dream of playing pro football alive.
At the same time, they leave Home Park with qualifications that can now take them into University, sporting careers and scholarships abroad.
“It was an excellent first half to the season for our players and they secured some fine results at very big clubs,” said Hodges. “We’re playing against the likes of Watford, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Brighton and a whole lot more, and we were more than competitive.
“It is a two-year course and it’s natural at the end of the programme that focus shifts slightly to completing all their educational requirements to ensure they achieve the best possible grades.
“They have been a great bunch of lads to work with them and the second-years are now virtually complete before setting off on a whole range of new adventures.
“One or two of them are looking at the possibility of going out to America, enrolling on a scholarship out there and exploring new football options.
“We were delighted to have Tallan Mitchell train with Torquay United and I’ve spoken with their manager Kevin Nicholson, who really likes Tallan and will continue to look at him in pre-season and as a development player over the next couple of years.
“It shows the football pathways are still open for players on our education programme and many of those completing the course this year are moving on to a degree programme, and careers in the sports industry.”
For more information on the football education programme at Home Park, please contact Lee Britchford on lee.britchford@pafc.co.uk or call 01752 562561 ext.4
