Silsden Announce College Partnership
Mon 1st September 2014 | Silsden | By Ian Templeman
Silsden have announced a partnership with Craven College to combine education with football and develop players for the future.
The aim of the agreement is to develop a player pathway through the age groups and create a route into football once players turn 16. The College football academy offers a football education programme for 16-19 year olds, which will be enhanced by the opportunities provided by Silsden.
Both parties entered talks during the 2013/14 season, and the agreement has now been finalised in time for the 2014/15 season and beyond.
Luke Swindlehurst, Head of Football at Craven College stated: "I'm delighted we have come to an agreement with Silsden. They are a respected community club with strong foundations and it is a perfect route for our students to go and test themselves at that standard of football.
"This agreement has been a positive process and fully supported by West Riding County FA which will help us develop the club and college education programme. Looking forward I feel this step will develop our college students in a number of ways, and the players here will go on to represent Silsden AFC“.
West Riding County FA actively encourage the formation of partnerships between local football clubs and colleges, and Jack Matthews, Football Development Officer at West Riding County FA added: “It’s great to see Silsden AFC and Craven College actively working alongside one another.
"The partnership will not only provide players with a route into a local club but also offer opportunities for students to get involved in other voluntary club roles and further develop their skillsets.
"I’m sure both parties will benefit greatly from the partnership and I hope it can be used as a blueprint for others to follow in the future”.
Silsden Chairman, Sean McNulty, believes the partnership will benefit both Craven College and ‘The Cobbydalers’ and that the club are delighted with the new partnership.
"As the highest ranked club in the Aire Valley it is vital that a club of our standing can attract the best players in the area", he said. "This partnership gives Silsden the opportunity to do just that and, hopefully, to progress to the next level in the Football League Pyramid.
"The links could spread further in the future with students from Craven College being involved in Coaching, Physiotherapy, Marketing and Advertising, Web Design, Catering and other aspects of running a club at this level".
Joint negotiator of the partnership, Barry Thomas, Silsden's Commercial Manager, added: "It has to be a great milestone in the long history of Silsden AFC, both on and off the field.
"It helps fill the gap between our junior and senior teams and ensures we are doing as much as we can to keep the young students connected to sport in line with a directive from the FA a year or so ago.
"We can also offer lots of Craven College students hands on experience at our Sporting Complex in all manner of studies, so it's heads we win, tails we can`t lose”.
Pictured left to right in the photo above are: Barry Thomas, Silsden AFC Commercial Manager. Luke Swindlehurst, Head of Football at Craven College, and Sean McNulty, Silsden AFC Club Chairman.
Photo courtesy of David Brett.
Silsden Announce College Partnership
Mon 1st September 2014 | Silsden
By Ian Templeman
Silsden have announced a partnership with Craven College to combine education with football and develop players for the future.
The aim of the agreement is to develop a player pathway through the age groups and create a route into football once players turn 16. The College football academy offers a football education programme for 16-19 year olds, which will be enhanced by the opportunities provided by Silsden.
Both parties entered talks during the 2013/14 season, and the agreement has now been finalised in time for the 2014/15 season and beyond.
Luke Swindlehurst, Head of Football at Craven College stated: "I'm delighted we have come to an agreement with Silsden. They are a respected community club with strong foundations and it is a perfect route for our students to go and test themselves at that standard of football.
"This agreement has been a positive process and fully supported by West Riding County FA which will help us develop the club and college education programme. Looking forward I feel this step will develop our college students in a number of ways, and the players here will go on to represent Silsden AFC“.
West Riding County FA actively encourage the formation of partnerships between local football clubs and colleges, and Jack Matthews, Football Development Officer at West Riding County FA added: “It’s great to see Silsden AFC and Craven College actively working alongside one another.
"The partnership will not only provide players with a route into a local club but also offer opportunities for students to get involved in other voluntary club roles and further develop their skillsets.
"I’m sure both parties will benefit greatly from the partnership and I hope it can be used as a blueprint for others to follow in the future”.
Silsden Chairman, Sean McNulty, believes the partnership will benefit both Craven College and ‘The Cobbydalers’ and that the club are delighted with the new partnership.
"As the highest ranked club in the Aire Valley it is vital that a club of our standing can attract the best players in the area", he said. "This partnership gives Silsden the opportunity to do just that and, hopefully, to progress to the next level in the Football League Pyramid.
"The links could spread further in the future with students from Craven College being involved in Coaching, Physiotherapy, Marketing and Advertising, Web Design, Catering and other aspects of running a club at this level".
Joint negotiator of the partnership, Barry Thomas, Silsden's Commercial Manager, added: "It has to be a great milestone in the long history of Silsden AFC, both on and off the field.
"It helps fill the gap between our junior and senior teams and ensures we are doing as much as we can to keep the young students connected to sport in line with a directive from the FA a year or so ago.
"We can also offer lots of Craven College students hands on experience at our Sporting Complex in all manner of studies, so it's heads we win, tails we can`t lose”.
Pictured left to right in the photo above are: Barry Thomas, Silsden AFC Commercial Manager. Luke Swindlehurst, Head of Football at Craven College, and Sean McNulty, Silsden AFC Club Chairman.
Photo courtesy of David Brett.
