Hugo Langton invites youngsters to join his Football Apprenticeship Scheme

The North Kent Football Academy are now recruiting for aspiring young footballers to join its Football Apprenticeship Scheme starting in March.

The scheme is initially for six months, and is full time, based at Goals Beckenham North, on the Copers Cope in Beckenham. The scheme is open for footballers aged 16-18 on the day of registration.

Academy director, Hugo Langton, 37, who lives in Forest Hill and is a UEFA A Licenced coach, runs the scheme which was initially launched in September last year.

Langton is now the manager at Ryman Premier League club Horsham, having coached Gillingham Ladies, Rusthall, Holmesdale, Ashford Town and Thamesmead Town and has also worked for Gillingham and Charlton Athletic.

He said: “We're looking for good young footballers who have perhaps fallen out of full time education, but whose passion is for football.

“Not only do the apprentices get to train every day and play matches, but we provide them with education too. We deliver an NVQ course in coaching and health related activities. Basically the lads will leave here with 7 certificates, which also include maths and English, as well as doing first aid and child welfare.

“On top of this we provide the apprentices with vital work experience, which includes coaching, refereeing small sided games as well as helping the Goals Centre we operate out of on the day to day running of the site."

Each apprentice is expected to complete 24 hours of work a week, and are paid a weekly wage to do so. It's broken down into 8 hours of education, 8 hours of football and 8 hours of work experience. On the football side, matches are arranged against a host of different sides, including in the future against pro clubs.

Langton added: "It's a great opportunity for a young footballer to showcase what they can do. We want to further these guys and help them get some sort of career in football, whether it be at non-league or in the League.

“A lot of lads get released by pro clubs in the age bracket we're looking at, and have nowhere to go. They think their career is over. This is an opportunity to help them and to try and get them back into the game.

“They'll really benefit from training every day, as well as gaining other experience to help them in their lives.

“It's a great scheme and they get paid for it too! Some of the lads I have at the moment are decent, and two are coming on trial with me at Horsham. Others have opportunities to play at other levels of non- league. But we're looking to raise the standard now we're up and running properly"

To apply for a trial, please email Hugo Langton at nkfootballacademy@gmail.com with your CV and detailing your footballing experience.   

For more details visit www.northkentfootballacademy.co.uk