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Men's Football
Academy

Learn with FC Halifax Town
FC Halifax Town and Calderdale College Development Centre for Football is a unique training scheme for young talented footballers aged 16-19. The centre provides the perfect environment for young athletes to develop in their chosen sport whilst studying towards a nationally recognised qualification. Through our partnership with FC Halifax, we offer a progressive pathway where athletes have the opportunity to progress to professional standard.

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.

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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.

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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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Booking Form

Please fill in the form linked below if you wish to book our facilities.

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Rock 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

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