FOOTBALL ACADEMY Official Partners
Welcome from James Bennett, Head of Football Bishop Burton College s football programme has developed significantly over the last four years, on and off the pitch. We now have two full-time squads coached by full UEFA A and B licensed coaches at University (Higher Education) and College (Further Education) football. The squads train every day as well as accessing strength and conditioning sessions, video analysis and recovery sessions. Our HE scholarship programme is now playing at a competitive level in British University and Colleges Sport (BUCS) after two promotions in the last three years, with the majority of the squad playing semi-professional football outside of the College. The FE Academy now has 25 players full-time who play in our English Colleges Football Association (ECFA) Category One and Two sides. The bulk of these players have come out of professional clubs at 16 or have been recruited through local football after being identified as a player with potential. Our success has been highlighted recently by a number of players who have come right through our system and are now playing regular semi-professional football whilst still combining their training and studies here at the College. With our main partners Hull City Tigers based on site, our College players have even had the unique opportunity to taste the professional game. Our College goalkeepers now train with Hull City Under 18s/23s on a weekly basis and the partnership with the club is developing all the time. With us, we really believe that players develop their game understanding, their physical attributes, their technical ability and also as young people. With fantastic facilities, high level coaching and club partners across the region, there is no better place than Bishop Burton to play football at an elite level.
About the Football Academy Talented footballers can access first-class coaching and sports development at Bishop Burton College. Applicants to the academy programme must demonstrate outstanding ability and show evidence of achievement or potential at regional or national level, but the overarching aim is to provide the players with the best possible environment to achieve their academic and sporting goals. We run men s football academies at degree level (Senior Academy) and two Further Education academies (Elite Academy and Development Academy). The Elite Academy is in the English Colleges Football Association (ECFA) Premier Division. This is the highest standard of college football in the country, while our Development Squad supports this playing in the England Colleges Category Two Yorkshire and Humber League. Our Senior Academy plays in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Tier 2 league. Entry Criteria All prospective academy players must have applied for a course at Bishop Burton to be eligible for selection. Sporting selection is undertaken through a pre-season trial. Players for the Development Academy are expected to have played at a good standard at youth level and may have been involved in representative sport. The Programmes Players in the academy system at Bishop Burton get a high quality programme balanced with their academic commitments. Players receive technical and tactical field sessions, strength and conditioning, video analysis, team meetings and various additional sessions to improve their knowledge and performance in the game. Elite Academy players will have had regional or county honours, academy experience or have been playing at a high standard of youth or adult football. Senior Academy players will have been playing at a high level of football equivalent to the College s own Elite Academy, or had a scholarship at a professional club. How to Apply Players can apply for any course at Bishop Burton College and still be considered for the Football Academy. During the application process, prospective players have the opportunity to indicate their interest in joining the academy. To apply direct to the Head of Football, please email james.bennett@bishopburton.ac.uk
Success Stories Levi Tarbotton Levi is a first year Football Academy player and has established himself as the College s centre back in the ECFA Premier League. He has also been selected to represent England Colleges National Team. Levi made his debut for the national team at St George s Park vs FA Independent Schools national team in December 2017. Will Waudby Will progressed through the College s Further Education system, completing two years on the Football Academy Programme. He is now in his third year as a degree student, studying FdSc Personal Training, and is part of the Higher Education Football Scholarship Programme. Will s development has been significant and he is now playing regularly outside the College for Bridlington Town in the Northern Counties East Football League.
Louis Bruce Louis recently graduated with a BSc Sport Coaching, having spent five years at the College. He represented England Colleges whilst in his second year of the Further Education football programme and was a key player for both Further Education and Higher Education during his time at the College. His development has seen Louis compete at a high level in non-league, making a number of appearances for North Ferriby two seasons ago in the National League North. He was also part of the squad which won the FA Trophy at Wembley in 2015. Louis is currently playing for Hall Road Rangers in the Northern Counties East Football League. Andy Norfolk Andy is a third year Higher Education scholar, studying BSc Sport Coaching. He joined Bishop Burton College after completing a two-year scholarship at Rotherham United. Following a spell at Goole Town in the Evo-Stik Division One South, Andy established himself as a first team regular for Bridlington Town. Andy finished the season for Bishop Burton as our top scorer, playing a major part in the College s British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) promotion. Eddie Birch Having spent five years at Bishop Burton, Eddie recently graduated from the BSc Sport Coaching course and joined the Bishop Burton Sports Development Team. His on-going commitment to the football programme alongside his studies has meant Eddie is now a recognised non-league player. He has played for numerous clubs, including Bridlington Town, Ossett Albion and Hull United, and is currently a first team regular at Pickering Town. Eddie has played an integral part in the success of the Bishop Burton Higher Education team, winning the Players Player of the Year two years running at the College s annual Sports Awards.
Partners with Hull City Tigers Bishop Burton College is the home of Championship Hull City Tigers Academy. Our own Football Academy links to their pathway, offering opportunities for our players to progress to theirs. Hull City Tigers Assistant Manager, Tony Pennock I can only offer praise for the current football programme that takes place at Bishop Burton College. Our relationship with the College has grown since we moved our whole academy programme here in July 2014 and the College has become a big part of the strategy we have in place for young players who leave our academy from the ages of 15 to 21. Hull City Tigers Captain, Michael Dawson The facilities at Bishop Burton the gym and the training pitches are absolutely fantastic. It is really good for the academy to have something like this and it is a great place to come and enjoy football.
Training Sessions Bishop Burton College is holding pre-season training sessions for prospective academy players every Wednesday from 4th July to 29th August 2018. Players must register for this in advance by emailing Head of Football James Bennett on james.bennett@bishopburton.ac.uk. All sessions are from 1pm to 3pm and transport will be provided if players need it.
Please recycle me. www.bishopburton.ac.uk enquiries@bishopburton.ac.uk bishopburtoncollege @bishopburton @bishopburtoncol Bishop Burton College Bishop Burton Beverley East Yorkshire HU17 8QG