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Feb
Rossett School to host new Harrogate Town football academy
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Rossett School has been selected to become the home of Harrogate Town AFC’s new football academy.
Harrogate Town announced the new partnership with the secondary school yesterday (February 17).
The academy will offer coaching and a match programme run by Harrogate Town youth staff.
The youth team will compete in a competitive league at the school starting on the 2025/26 season, playing their home games on the artificial pitches there.
Rossett School already has a rich history in sport. Aston Villa and former England striker Rachel Daly attended the school, which has long been noted for its sports facilities.
The club has said that the youth academy will provide players with “a realistic pathway into our first team squad”.
Harrogate Town academy manager Richard Jones said:
It has been important that we have a provision in place to continue the development of an U18/U19s football programme, to maintain a transition from the APDC and external U16 footballers for those that want to continue their studies.
The Harrogate Town Football Academy programme will be worked around a bespoke education timetable to enable players to complete full-time education in the subject they enjoy, at the same time as continuing with their football development.
The partnership we have set up with Rossett School will also give options to study further education in other subject areas – these will be agreed on a case-by-case basis – which will be a new avenue for us, so although the BTEC course will be specifically designed around the football programme, it is encouraged for all applicants to get application forms in, even if they want to study towards different courses at Rossett, as these can also be considered.
Youth players will be enrolled at Rossett, studying a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport. This will give them the equivalent UCAS points required for university, if they consider this as an option in the future.
Town's Operations director Dave Riley added:
As a growing and evolving club looking towards the future, we wanted to focus more on local talent whilst ensuring that a pathway remains from them starting out through our player development centre, all the way through to first team level football.
We have a great partnership with Rossett School, and we are excited about working together to further strengthen our partnership, with headteacher Tim Milburn influential in the whole process.
Applications are now open and can be submitted via the link here.
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