All students in the programme will be entitled to a free 'Season Ticket' pass to Plainmoor for all League matches next season. They will also have the chance to see what life is like for a professional footballer and provide inspiration to succeed on and off the pitch.

The College is delighted to be working with Torquay United Association Football Club on a unique partnership between sport and education. This partnership is, we believe, unique in that its main drive is not to focus on elite footballers but to promote skill, knowledge and understanding of the game amongst young people. It is open to both boys and girls and we expect there to be a real boost to the opportunities available for Ladies Football from this initiative.

Schemes such as this have in the past focused on picking out the best talent and grooming them for a career as a professional footballer. Some are clearly very successful and go on to play world class Football whilst others end up with few qualifications and no career opportunities. Students on this scheme will find themselves with a good set of qualifications, having had an opportunity to further their footballing interests.

This scheme will ensure that young people appreciate the importance of a good education running alongside their passion for Football. We expect students who take up the course to have a love of Football and wish to develop their own skills so they can play, referee, coach or help with the administration at a local level and take their place in our local sporting community.

The course will have very important values which the students will have to uphold, these include effective work ethic, self discipline, reliability and sportsmanship.

I see this initiative as an outstanding opportunity to promote sport across Torbay and applaud Torquay United for their commitment to support the young people in our community.

Jane English
Principal

 

Chris Roberts Chairman of Torquay United As Chairman of our Football Club I am exceedingly proud today to officially re-launch Torquay United's Youth Team in conjunction with Paignton Community & Sports College . Next to staying in the Football League this is by far the most vital stage of the ongoing development of our Football Club. The Youth team and the Programme will start in September 2007. In terms of Torquay United being at the heart of the community, our Fans around Plainmoor on Match Days, need to know that their children can also play for Torquay United in the future.

When I put the initial proposal together for the Educational Soccer Development Programme, I felt that it was important that we allowed all students of Paignton College to be associated with Torquay United, regardless of their footballing ability. The Course will enable both the Football Club and the College to instil vital life skills into the Students, from health & diet, to life-style choices, self motivation, as well as self discipline with a strong moral and ethic code.

The Educational Soccer Development Programme is different by its very nature from most Football Club Academies or YTS Programmes. Traditionally Football Clubs sign vast swathes of 16 - 18 year olds, who very often neglect their studies believing they are on the cusp of a professional Football Career. The vast majority of these Youth Players are invariably released back into the community without any qualifications and the football club then turn their back on them.

Education and a career for the individuals is paramount, Torquay United Football Club will encourage our sponsors and commercial partners to offer appropriate work experience placements to the students, hopefully this may in some cases lead to fulltime meaningful employment in the Bay.

The Course will be open to Boys and Girls. The Girls will become part of a new Torquay United Ladies Team. The best footballers on the Course will be invited to become part of the Torquay United Youth Team. Our Club will again play reserve team fixtures. The reserve team will be made up of the remainder of the Professional squad and the best Youth Team Players.

We are also exploring the opportunities of starting our own centre of excellence for young players, from under 7's up to 16 year olds.

Since coming to Torquay, I have received several emails and letters from young fans, who at the age of 16 have to pay adult prices at the turnstiles on a match day. I believe at 16 they should still be in College. We have therefore decided that all Students on the course, will receive a 'Free Season Ticket pass' for all League matches at Plainmoor for the 2007/08 Football Season.