New College Lanarkshire Partnership
Clyde FC and New College Lanarkshire have announced an innovative partnership to provide students with a unique opportunity for development in professional football.
The club has endorsed the College’s NQ Football Performance programme, offering students on the course the opportunity to be selected for The Bully Wee’s under-20 team. Students who display exceptional football talent while studying on the course will be considered for the squad, which has a proven track record for developing young football talent.
The partnership reaffirms New College Lanarkshire and Clyde FC’s mutual aim to develop highly-skilled footballers while providing an industry-recognised qualification in state-of-the-art facilities. The move will provide students on the course a complete pathway for development in football and sports as they expand their skills and technical ability in football while gaining an industry-recognised qualification.
Pictured (left to right): Blair Munn, Allan Moore, Barry Ferguson, Sandy Clark, Davie Hay, Todd Lumsden, Jim Griffin, John Alexander.
Current members of the under-20 team will also be given the opportunity to undertake the National Qualification, allowing access to full-time training.
Todd Lumsden, Curriculum and Quality Leader at New College Lanarkshire, said: “It is vitally important that as a college we offer as many ways to progress as possible, and this partnership gives young people the opportunity to play with a professional team while gaining a qualification that may help them achieve their goals in the future.
“Students on the course will benefit immensely from the expertise of our teaching staff, including former national football players and experienced coaches. It is fantastic to train in the professional setting of Broadwood Stadium and the support of Barry and his coaching staff at Clyde. Along with developing football skills and techniques from professionals, students will learn the theoretical as-pects of the sport, including recovery, health and nutrition.
“With Clyde FC as partners, students will have unique exposure to the team and the benefits it can offer.”
Students joining the course and selected to join the Under-20 team will undertake twice-weekly training sessions side-by-side with Barry Ferguson and the first team.
The Clyde manager said: “I’m really excited about this new partnership with the college. I’m a great believer in developing young players in a full-time setting, while allowing them to further their education at the same time. To me, it’s a win-win initiative and I’m really looking forward to seeing the successful applicants coming in and developing their skills.”
Clyde Chairman, John Alexander, added: “As a club, we pride ourselves in our status as a Community Interest Company. Our ethos is to serve our community, and the game, in any way we can. Like Barry, the club takes great pride in offering aspiring young players the chance to make their way in the game while, importantly, giving them the skills and qualifications for life, through this educational partnership.”
Blair Munn, a NQ Football Performance graduate and current student on the HND Sports Qualification course at New College Lanarkshire, has been offered a soccer scholarship in Canada at the end of the year.
The 20-year-old from Cumbernauld commented: “Starting out on the NQ Football Performance course at New College Lanarkshire really helped me to get to where I am today as along with developing my football skills I have gained an academic qualification.
“I would really encourage others to join the NQ Football performance course, especially those with an interest in football development but also focussed on gaining an academic qualification. The pathway is great and if hard work is put in they will get the rewards.”
For more information or to receive an information pack about the course, please email Todd Lumsden at todd.lumsden@nclan.ac.uk.