Men's Football
Academy
Learn with FC Halifax Town

The Programme
Calderdale College is partnered with FC Halifax Town and is offering a unique course in which 16 – 19 year olds can pursue a career in football without having to give up their studies.
Students will study towards a BTEC Diploma in Sport alongside receiving full time, professional, football training.
Students enrolled on the programme will benefit from training on site, in state of the art facilities at the Inspire Centre, Calderdale College. These include a grass pitch, 3G pitches and an elite strength and conditioning and fitness suite shared with elite athletes from a range of clubs including Halifax Rugby League and FC Halifax Town.
Players will receive ample contact time with UEFA B accredited coaches in a timetable which is structured around their academic learning, ensuring the correct balance of time to complete academic work and training.
Benefits
Benefits include:
- Weekly strength and conditioning sessions with qualified coaches along with nutritional seminars and advice
- Video analysis for feedback and improvement
- Participation in the National Youth Alliance, ECFA Premier and Regional Leagues, FA Youth Cup, ESFA Schools & Colleges Cup and the ECFA Knock Out Cup
- Progression to the FC Halifax Town Youth Team
To support player development, all students will complete a range of volunteer coaching opportunities which have the potential to lead to employment either in college or through one of our many key partners in the industry.
The centre provides a fantastic offer to any talented footballer wishing to develop their skills in the game and build towards a career in professional football.
FC Halifax Town have a growing reputation for developing talented players and assisting their progress into the Premiership and Football Leagues’ with players such as Jamie Vardy (Leicester City, England), Lee Gregory (Millwall) and more recently Mark Roberts and Shaun Tuton (Barnsley) having made such steps in recent years.
Learn a trade as an academy student
We are proud to be able to offer a unique trade pathway for our academy students.
Calderdale College is one of the only college’s in the country to offer students the chance to learn a trade and gain a construction qualification whilst continuing their sporting journey with their academy team.
We work closely with our professional and elite sporting partners (FC Halifax Town, Halifax RLFC & Bradford Dragons), to be able to offer this exciting opportunity.
Your timetable is individually managed to ensure you get ample time in the classroom, in the workshop and on the field or court!
Meet the coach
Mike Jeffries
FC Halifax Town Youth Team Coach, Mike Jeffries is a UEFA A licensed coach and has an extensive youth development-coaching career, having started his professional playing career at Macclesfield Town FC. His previous coaching roles include time at Huddersfield Town FC, Oldham Athletic AFC, Bury Football Club, Manchester United and most recently Burnley FC.
Gavin Atherton
Gavin is a UEFA B licensed coach who following time at the highly successful Accrington & Rossendale Football Academy joins us to head up our Football Development Centre and assist Mike with the FC Halifax Town Youth Team. Gavin has substantial youth development coaching experience, currently coaching at Wigan Athletic Academy.
Rob Mitchell & Aaron Beaumont
Brighouse Town AFC Women’s Manager, Rob and Brighouse Town AFC Men’s Coach Aaron both join the college to work with our ECFA Regional Squads. Both coaches have extensive experience in the game.
Roll of Honour
Carl Rushworth, Brighton & Hove Albion, Premier Leagye U23
Ross Barrows, Kings Lynn, National League North
Jack Atkinson, Alfreton, National League North
Issac Baldwin, Farsley Celtic, National League North
Kyle Trennery, Farsley Celtic, National League North
Ousman Cham, Brighouse Town, Evo-Stik Premier
Shiraz Khan FC Brighouse Town, Evo-Stik Premier
Marko Basic, Ossett United, Evo-Skik 1
Elliot Harrison, Ossett United, Evo-Skik 1
Sam Hillhouse
Jay Benn
Elliot Harrison, Mossley AFC 2017- Present
Jack Bradley, FC Halifax Town 2015-Present
Academy Success
National Youth Alliance League Cup Finalists 2017/18
Recruitment Events
2020 events to be confirmed in September
Get in Touch
Please contact mikejeffries@fchalifaxtown.com if you have any queries about the programme.
To register your interest please complete an expression of interest here.
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RT @HalifaxPanthers: “It’s a challenging but exciting year for the Halifax Panthers Rugby Academy, where we are collectively working toward…...
Read MoreRT @HalifaxPanthers: 🤝 | 𝗣𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗔𝗟𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗘𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦 𝗥𝗙𝗟 𝗔𝗖𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 Making Calderdale one of only nine in the…...
Read MoreRT @OssettUnitedLFC: STAFF VACANCY As we continue to prepare for the restart, we are looking to grow our ever expanding back room staff by…...
Read MoreRT @CommunityFCHT: 🔷⚽️ YOUTH TEAM | Well we managed to get one session in for the U16 group before the latest lockdown started. If you’r…...
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Read MoreWe are proud to be the headquarters for this fantastic football education programme! @CalderdaleCol Leaving high school in the summer and still undecided on your next step? E-mail sportsacademies@calderdale.ac.uk for more information on this exciting opportunity ⚽️📚🔵 #FCHT ...
Read MoreRT @CommunityFCHT: 🔷⚽️ YOUTH TEAM | The U16 group has restarted as we build for the @FCHTOnline 2021/22 Youth Team. @gavaffers and @snic…...
Read MoreRT @htafcfoundation: 🚨 Next week we are hosting an online Q&A session for prospective students of our Female Football Academy and their par…...
Read MoreRT @htafcfoundation: 🚨 REMINDER | We're now running a FREE weekly #PLKicks session at @CalderdaleCol! 🏃♀️ Why not come along, get active…...
Read MoreRock Climbing Wall
Opening Times
Mon – Fri | 9am – 9pm
Sat – Sun | 9am – 5pm
Football, Rugby and Basketball Academies
Free car parking
Get in Touch
Call us on 01422 399 311 or email inspirecentre@calderdale.ac.uk
Kids Holiday Camps
Facilities
Hannah Cockroft Sports Hall
3G Pitch
Dance Studio
Inspire Centre Gym
Classrooms & Meeting Venue
Grass Pitch