Football club and college team up to form academy

A further education college has teamed up with a football club to help young sports people to play at the highest level possible.

Truro City Football Club is set to develop a player pathway academy for 16 to 18-year-old students at Truro and Penwith College.

A college spokesperson said the partnership would enable football students to access a professional football environment while continuing their studies.

This would include opportunities to play in a stadium setting and taking part in the FA Youth Cup.

The spokesperson said while the long-term ambition was to see a professional Truro City player emerge from the academy, it would focus on the career development of all students.

Luke Payne, head of sport, health and education at Truro and Penwith College, added: "This partnership is all about opportunity for our football students, but also for those who want to work in professional sport beyond playing."

Opportunities open to the students include media and communications, sports science, therapy, and rehabilitation and event management, he added.

Truro City's director of football, Alex Black, said: "It's about creating the first clear pathway into full-time professional football for young people in Cornwall.

"The college has excellent facilities and people, and together we can give students opportunities that simply haven't existed here before."

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