ELITE INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE The year 2017 is a landmark one for College - the year we teamed up with Improtech Soccer Elite Academy - the leading specialists in football and education in the North East of .

Improtech Soccer has a proven track record of producing players good enough to join the Academies of Sunderland, Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool. The very first Improtech student was Ethan Robson, now a first-team squad member at Sunderland AFC and many of our players have since joined professional clubs. Our Football Development Centre will support you with progressing into professional and semi-professional football as well as international scholarships. You will get unrivalled levels of football training from a coach of UEFA Pro Licence standard, ensuring you develop both as individual footballers, and team players whilst studying at Sunderland College on one of the courses below: • A-Levels (Level 3) • National Extended Diploma in Sport (Level 3) • Higher National Diploma in Sport (Level 4+5)

If you want to be the best footballer you can be, Sunderland College and Improtech will help you reach your goal. See page 23 on how to apply.

GOT A QUESTION? If you have any questions about studying here at Sunderland College, what we have to offer, where it can lead... anything really, just get in touch:

@SunCollSport /SunCollSport 0191 511 6000 sunderlandcollege.ac.uk

2 AS A STUDENT OF OUR FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE YOU’LL RECEIVE: • 12 hours of high quality first-class training from a coach of UEFA Pro Licence standard - the highest coaching qualification in the game of football • Strength and conditioning support delivered by one of the leading specialists in the UK • Physiotherapy clinic • Nike Training Kit • Individual player performance plan to progress your talent • Training and education in our multi-million pound sports academy • Opportunities to develop your coaching and leadership skills with FA Coaching Awards • Entry into the highest local and national competitions including semi-professional football and the National Youth Alliance League • Use of the facilities at Academy of Light as part the strategic partnership that Sunderland College has with Sunderland Association Football Club • Showcase games against Premier League and Football League clubs (including Sunderland AFC, Newcastle United FC and Middlesbrough FC) • Your own athlete development mentor and access to Catalyst 4 Professional Sports Management (an internationally recognised and FA registered football intermediary) • Exclusive opportunities to play for AFC

Academy of Light, Sunderland Association Football Club’s Training Ground 3 Jordan Henderson (Liverpool FC captain, England 4 International and previous Improtech student) “I would certainly recommend the Improtech development programme to any aspiring young player who wants to improve all aspects of their technique.

“The intense technical drills that are an integral part of the programme inspire creativity and the vast experience of the Improtech coaches enable them to create a learning environment that encourages freedom, expression, innovation and enjoyment.”

JORDAN HENDERSON, SUNDERLAND-BORN LIVERPOOL AND ENGLAND CAPTAIN

Born: Sunderland Sunderland AFC: 71 appearances, 2008 - 2011 Liverpool FC: 180 appearances, 2011 - England: 32 appearances, 2010 - 5 South Shields FC Ground

6 Sunderland College gym facilities FA Vase winners 2017

Sunderland AFC, 7 (L-R) John Rushworth (Faculty Director), Ethan Robson (Sunderland AFC) and Martin Scott 8 (Improtech Director and UEFA Pro Licence coach) at the launch of the Football Development Centre FOOTBALLING AND ACADEMIC EDUCATION It’s not just your footballing education that we care about at Sunderland College but your academic education too. Our Football Development Centre runs as a professional academy would, combining educational studies with professional training and competitive games.

Sunderland College has a great reputation for our teaching and learning and our students have exceeded the national average for achievement rates and high grades for the last five years. Players of the Football Development Centre can chose to study sport courses at Levels 3 to 5 or study 3 A-Level subjects alongside 12 hours of professional football coaching and competitive games in the highest leagues accessible, ensuring our players meet both their footballing and career aims. The quality of our education and the support we provide to our students is paramount to us. That is why we’re committed to developing our programmes to ensure that they meet the highest possible quality standards. We’ve demonstrated this commitment by continually meeting the highest quality standards demanded of the UK government. We have achieved the outstanding higher education quality mark from the Quality Assurance Agency, we consistently achieve the highest rates of student satisfaction and our students have achieved a 99% A-Level pass rate for the last 8 years, whilst the majority of our professional and technical programmes have a 100% pass rate. We were inspected and accredited by the British Council in 2016 and we were identified as having key areas of strengths around our teaching, premises and facilities, learning resources, care of students, staff management, and leisure opportunities.

9 “Catalyst4psm have helped me greatly with my dream of playing professional football, structuring a route and supporting me every step of the way to achieve it. Coming from Sunderland College all the way to a Premier League club has been a fantastic journey.”

JACK DEVLIN, STOKE CITY FC

10 INTRODUCING CATALYST 4 PROFESSIONAL SPORTS MANAGEMENT LIMITED English Football Association Intermediary status (IMS000983/IMS002773/ IMS003061).

• Experience within the sector transacting business in every continent. • Structured strategic consultants in 21 different countries throughout the world with new partners joining us in 2017 from India, China, Egypt, Pakistan, Germany and the West Indies. • Domestically represent 19 players from such clubs as Liverpool FC, Newcastle United FC, Sunderland AFC and Middlesbrough and top emerging talent at lower level. • Internationally represent/mandated for players currently playing in Europe, Asia, Middle East and South America. • With over 25 years personal industry experience, we have created a company that we feel is excellently positioned in the sports management market due to the strength, depth and experience of our dedicated team. This is built around our unique and distinctive approach to sports management where we put the client at the centre of everything we do. • As of February 2018, 22 players have graduated from our academy into full time professional football. • twitter.com/cat4psm • facebook.com/cat4psm • instagram.com/cat4psm • youtube.com/channel/UC0MIAPKfaQTMPSl0m2tW3wQ

11 HALL OF FAME Improtech and Sunderland College have a proven track record of success, just a few are shown below:

• Jordan Henderson (ex Sunderland AFC, now Liverpool FC captain and England International)

• Ethan Robson (Sunderland AFC) • Jimmy Montgomery (Gateshead • James Martin (Hartlepool FC) FC and ex Middlesbrough FC) • Jazz Suker (Dundee Utd and • Dale Connor (Oldham Athletic FC) ex Sunderland AFC) • Ryan Mouter (Wimbledon FC) • Kieran Charlton (Middlesbrough FC) • Carl Jones (Hartlepool FC) • Elliott Embleton (Sunderland AFC) • Mohab Ahmed El Marakbi (South Shields • Jamie Corbain (Kilmarnock FC FC and Egyptian National Youth Yeam) and ex Newcastle Utd) • Callum Mordey (USA • Jack Devlin (Stoke City FC) scholarship - Georgia) • Callum Patton (Gateshead FC) • Joe Atkinson (USA scholarship - California)

Robbie Clarkson (Performance Matt Wylie (Paralympic 12 Analyst at Manchester City FC) Gold Medallist Rio 2016) With a pass rate of 98% and alumni like referee for the Football Association, Michael Oliver to shout about, you’ll be in good company studying sport at Sunderland College. There is an almost endless list of career opportunities within the sports sector. We work with some of the UK’s top industry bodies such as the Football Association, Rugby Fives Association, Rugby Football League and Lawn Tennis Association to make sure you develop the best possible combination of skills, theory and practice during your time with us. So whether you are looking to be a Sports Coach, Fitness Instructor, Personal Trainer, Sports Assistant, Sports Physiotherapist or Teacher, we have the course for you. 13 IMPROTECH Sunderland AFC footballer Ethan Robson was at the launch of Improtech Soccer Elite Academy’s move into Sunderland College.

As the very fi rst student to experience Improtech’s innovative coaching system, the 20-year-old is now a fi rst-team squad member at Sunderland AFC. Former Sunderland AFC left-back Martin Scott, who founded and runs Improtech Soccer said: “We’re proud of our track record of improving young players and we’re excited at now being able to use that expertise to benefi t 16-19 year olds at Sunderland College. “We can promise young players of ability that they will become the best player they are capable of being, as long as they show the same commitment and enthusiasm as ourselves. “We foster a great team spirit in the group, so everyone benefi ts as an individual player while at the same team becoming part of a tight- knit group. “It’s a very exciting time to be joining Sunderland College because it is a real opportunity for good young players to be part of something fresh and new which can help them progress as footballers while continuing to study for certifi cates, diplomas and qualifi cations. “Any young footballer enrolling at Sunderland College, won’t be disappointed by the coaching they get.” Ethan, who said the launch of the new Academy is good news for the and young players in the area, couldn’t agree more. He said: “I benefi ted from Improtech when I was at school and the more young players experience Improtech coaching, the better for them.”

14 Combining Football and Academic Excellence. Ethan Robson (Sunderland AFC) 15 SCHOLARSHIPSUSA Callum studied with the Football Development Centre completing a BTEC Extended Diploma in Sport before gaining a scholarship to play football in the United States of America.

Juggling studying his degree in Psychology and playing football for Georgia Gwinnett University, Callum is now well on his way to playing professionally in America. We caught up with him during the break in season... “I’d do it all over again if I could…” claims Callum, “the best bit about the Football Development Centre is coming into college everyday and doing something you love with all your friends.” “The highlight of my career so far was when I got my fi rst contract with SAFC as I’m a big Sunderland fan. You’ve got to have drive and determination though. You’ve got to push yourself to get the best out of college. I’m hoping to get offered a contract to play football professionally in America but thanks to my education, if I don’t I would like to be a sports psychologist.”

16 INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION Our Elite Football Development Centre The trio have enjoyed soccer success attracts International footballers too. in their home countries (including international honours) and have now joined Andreas Kokoska, Dimitri Limbo and the specialist football centre to take their Mohab Elmasakbi travelled to Bede game to the next level, further cementing Campus to become full-time Improtech our reputation as a leading light in sports Elite students. education.

L-R - Dimitri, Andreas and Mohab, our Improtech Elite students 17 COURSES

A-LEVELS A-Levels are usually used as a stepping- stone to University and you will study three or four subjects over two years.

We offer over 20 A-Level subjects which include Maths, English, Biology, Chemistry and Physics as well as Psychology, Business, Photography and Physical Education. To study on our A-Level courses you will need to have the equivalent of at least five GCSEs at grade A*-C including Maths and English.

ALL OF OUR COURSES WILL BE COMBINED WITH TRAINING AND COMPETITIVE MATCHES AS PART OF THE ELITE FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

18 Students celebrating yet another year of excellent achievement SPORT NATIONAL EXTENDED DIPLOMA LEVEL 3 WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR? This course is for people contemplating careers in sport, exercise and fitness and who are confident to volunteer and deliver sport sessions. This course will give you a range of experiences from health and fitness to sports science and coaching.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO APPLY FOR THE COURSE? You’ll need the equivalent of at least four GCSEs at grade C or above including English language or an IELTS score of 5.5.

WHAT ARE THE KEY THINGS YOU'LL LEARN? Over the two years you will study a variety of practical, theoretical and applied sport and fitness topics, including: • Sports Coaching • Instructing Physical Activity • Leadership in Sport • Exercise Health and Lifestyle • Practical Team/Individual Sport • Sport Science • Rules, Regulations and Officiating • Principles of Anatomy and • Sports Development Physiology in Sport • Fitness • Psychology for Sports Performance • Fitness Testing • Sports Nutrition • Fitness Training and Programming • Sports Injuries • Analysis of Sports Performance

HOW YOU WILL LEARN? You’ll learn through a variety of active and theoretical teaching and learning approaches. You will be assessed through coursework ranging from practical demonstrations to written reports. The course makes use of our on site fully equipped classrooms, sports science laboratory, state of the art sports hall, fitness suite, strength and conditioning studio and 3rd generation pitches as well as accessing numerous world class sporting facilities in and around the local area.

19 HND SPORT (COACHING AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT) LEVEL 4 AND 5 WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR? This course is for those who want to develop their interest in sport to a higher academic level. You might be a voluntary coach wanting to take your hobby to the next level or you might be working full time in the sport sector and want to boost your career prospects.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO APPLY FOR THE COURSE? You’ll need to have the equivalent of at least 48 UCAS points. If you are a mature student without a Level 3 qualification you’ll need to have some experience in sports coaching. It is desirable to have a GCSE/Level 2 Maths and English or IELTS score of 5.5 or above. You’ll also need to gain DBS Clearance.

WHAT ARE THE KEY THINGS YOU'LL LEARN? This course covers the following key areas: • Applied sports coaching • Evolution of sports development • The sports and leisure industry • Research Project • Principles of Sport Coaching • Managing sports development

HOW YOU WILL LEARN? The course is a combination of practical, theory and individual studies. As well as developing your practical coaching skills in the sports hall and your knowledge of coaching and development in the classroom, you will be asked to plan, implement and review the personal developments that you would like to see happen over the duration of the course. Your assessments will take place in a variety of formats ranging from exams, essays, reports and practical assessments. Throughout your course your studies will include lectures, seminars and practical lessons.

20 ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT Our English as a Foreign Language Department is accredited by the British Council. During a recent inspection, strengths were noted in teaching, care of students, learning resources, premises and facilities, staff management and leisure opportunities.

English Language skills development courses are available for people who wish to improve their general English skills and are designed to suit individual language levels.

WHAT ARE THE KEY THINGS YOU'LL LEARN? This course focuses on the language and skills necessary to improve grammar, vocabulary and communicative skills. It helps to develop accurate pronunciation; improves listening, writing and reading skills, and covers all aspects of English grammar.

HOW WILL YOU LEARN? This course uses a wide variety of teaching and learning styles, including classroom teaching; small group work; individual task completion and self-study. Throughout the course your tutor will assess your progress and give you regular feedback about your reading, writing, listening and speaking, as well as grammar and vocabulary.

21 ELITE ATHLETE SCHOLARSHIP WHAT IS IT? Up to £3,000 off tuition fees.

WHO IS IT FOR? Football players who are of an elite standard for their age group. This will be determined by our Improtech coaching team analysing video footage of your performances and through discussion with in country coaches / agents.

CONTACT: For further information on the Elite Athlete Scholarship please contact our International Offi ce [email protected] .

In partnership with:

22 NEXT STEPS Sunderland College is recognised by the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) as a Trusted Tier 4 Sponsor. This enables us to issue the necessary documentation to support your application for a study visa for the UK. We provide guidance and support on your visa application and we will ensure that you have all the necessary documents in order to meet the entry criteria for study in the UK. We will also provide you with support for your College application, ensuring that you have provided all the necessary documents to enable you to enrol at the College. The International Office can provide support with accommodation. We can offer self-catered halls of residence very near the Football Development Centre. The International Office also provides welfare support once you’re in the UK: support with opening bank accounts, registering with police and many other services. If you would like to express an interest in the Football Development Centre, please send an email, stating which course you would like to take, your current qualifications and your IELTS score, to [email protected]. Our Faculty team will assess both your qualifications and football ability and let you know whether they meet our criteria. We look forward to welcoming you to Sunderland College.

23 South Shields FC on their way to winning the FA 24 Vase Final at Wembley International Stadium 25 Aquatic Centre, Sunderland

26 Newcastle United FC, St James’ Park Durham County Cricket Club, Emirates Riverside

South Shields FC home fixture 27 Photo credit: Michael Hanselmann www.michaelhanselmann.de

Award winning Sunderland and Northumberland Coastlines

The historic medieval city of Durham is home to Durham Cathedral - one of the greatest buildings in Europe Photo credit: Reading Tom 28 www.flickr.com/photos/16801915@N06 Photo credit: Wilka Hudson www.wilka.co.uk

The vibrant and diverse city of Newcastle can trace it’s history back to Roman times and includes Sage Gateshead Music Centre and the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art

The International Airport is just a short distance by road to Sunderland and also has frequent Photo credit: Newcastle Airport direct rail services to Sunderland City Centre www.newcastleairport.com 29 If you require the contents of this brochure in an alternative format please contact us.

@SunCollSport /SunCollSport 0191 511 6000 sunderlandcollege.ac.uk

All information correct at time of print: April 2018