Football Centre of Excellence
HAM COL T LE AN G R E G
Football Centre of Excellence E ST 17 ABLISHED 20
Follow us @GCHUCofE Welcome from Alex Cross, Head Coach – Football Grantham College Football Centre of Excellence has progressed significantly over the years and we are looking forward to further significant developments in the near future. We have opportunities for all players with our College (Further Education) football and our University (Higher Education) football with a paid scholarship. Our elite, elite development and technical pathways offer opportunities for all our players to train, progress and compete at relevant levels in relation to ability and experience.
Our FE football is currently progressing through Our success has been highlighted by a number the College leagues with players currently of players that have come right through our competing in the English Colleges Football system and are playing semi-professional football Association (ECFA) Category Two and Three whilst studying on FE or HE combining their leagues. Our HE paid scholarship players are training, fixtures and studies here at Grantham currently representing our elite team whilst College. We are working with a number of playing for local semi-professional clubs. semi-professional football clubs and have various links into the professional game to give We have a team of staff that deliver the football all players the necessary exposure needed as a provision to the players at the Centre of young footballer. Our unique model offers all Excellence. Our staff include: our players at the Centre of Excellence the best Alex Cross – Head Coach – UEFA Licensed possible opportunity to progress technically, Rob Bernthal – Assistant Head Coach – UEFA tactically, physically, psychologically, socially and Licensed more importantly, as young adults. Joe Evans – Performance Analyst – Qualified Analyst With our outstanding football provision, fantastic Dan Barber – Physiotherapist/Sports Therapist – links with numerous clubs and Ofsted rated good Qualified Physio/Sports Therapist teaching provision, Grantham College is the Tom Clayton – Goalkeeper Coach – UEFA perfect place to play football. Licensed
All of our staff have experience in either a semi- professional or professional football club and Follow us have a degree related to sport/football. @GCHUCofE HAM COL T LE AN G R E About the Football Centre G Football Centre of Excellence E ST 17 of Excellence ABLISHED 20 All footballers can access the highest quality football provision and sports education at Grantham College. Our players have the opportunity to train as a professional footballer would throughout the week. All players get access to: • 4 football based sessions per week • Competitive fixtures programme every week • Friendlies against semi-professional and professional clubs • Performance Analysis (app or website use) • Performance Reviews • Testing throughout the season • Conditioning session • Nutrition, Analysis, Psychology and Prevention workshops • 1 to 1 and position specific coaching Football Entry Criteria (Further Education 16-19 years) Paid Football Scholarship All potential COE players must have applied (Higher Education 18+ years) for any sports course at Grantham College All potential COE players on the paid to be eligible for the full benefits from our scholarship must have applied for the Higher programme. National Certificate or the Higher National
Diploma in Sport. Elite – All players in our elite pathway will have played for an academy, county or a You must have played for an academy, high standard of youth/adult football. county or a high standard of youth/adult football to be accepted onto this course. Elite Development – All players in our elite development pathway will have played a good standard of youth/adult football. How to apply Technical – All players in our technical Potential players can apply for any relevant pathway will have played grassroots football. sport course to be considered by the COE.
For more information visit: How to apply www.grantham.ac.uk/courses and search Potential players can apply for any relevant either ‘football’ or ‘paid scholarship’ sport course to be considered by the COE. For further information please email For more information visit: Head Coach, Alex Cross on www.grantham.ac.uk/courses and search [email protected]. ‘football’.
For further information please email Head Coach, Alex Cross on [email protected]. Photograph; Left: Head Coach Alex Cross, Right: Head of Fitness & Conditioning at Football League Club. Owner of PhysioFix Performance - Lee Taylor. “Since Alex took the helm of the football Centre of Excellence programme at Grantham College, his team have delivered a professional academy structure across the board. From a technical, tactical, performance analysis & sports science aspect the COE is challenging Premier League and Football League clubs across the UK”.
Quote from Lee Taylor Head of Fitness and Conditioning at Football League Club. Owner of PhysioFix Performance Success Stories
Eathan Milne Eathan joined us from Barrowby FC after having spells at Lincoln City when he moved to the United Kingdom from South Africa.
Eathan completed his GCSEs at Priory Ruskin Academy, Grantham. He now studies the BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Sport (worth the equivalent of 2 A-Levels) at Grantham College whilst representing the college’s Elite team.
Eathan has played U21s football for Harrowby United and senior football for Barrowby FC, Harrowby United FC and Cottesmore AFC. Eathan received player’s player of the year and goal of the season last year. He is being closely monitored by a premier league football club and also represents the Lincolnshire U18s Representative Team.
Joe Wroughton
Joe joined us from Grantham Town after having trials at numerous professional clubs.
Joe completed his GCSEs at Toothill, Bingham. He now studies the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport (worth the equivalent of 3 A-Levels) at Grantham College whilst representing the college’s Elite team.
Joe has played U21s football for Harrowby United and played senior football for Harrowby United and Collingham FC. Joe received the golden boot award last year. He also represents the Lincolnshire U18s Representative Team.
Jack Wood Jack joined us from Lincoln City where he was released at 16.
Jack completed his GCSEs at The Priory Witham Academy, Lincoln. He now studies the BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Sport (worth the equivalent of 2 A-Levels) at Grantham College after completing the Level 2 in Sport in his first year whilst representing the college’s Elite team.
Jack has played U21s football for Harrowby United and has played senior football for Horncastle Town FC for the last two seasons where he was an integral part of winning the Lincs League Cup. Jack is also the captain of the Centre of Excellence programme. Oliver Jepson Oliver joined us from Rustons Sports after having spells at Lincoln City.
Oliver completed his GCSEs at North Kesteven Academy, Lincoln. He now studies the BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Sport (worth the equivalent of 2 A-Levels) at Grantham College whilst representing the college’s Elite team.
Oliver has played U21s football for Harrowby United and senior football for Spalding United and Cottesmore AFC.
Oliver received coaching staff player of the year and centre of excellence player of the year last season.
James Waby
James joined us from Rustons Sports.
James completed his GCSEs at North Kesteven Academy, Lincoln. He now studies the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport (worth the equivalent of 3 A-Levels) at Grantham College whilst representing the college’s Elite team.
James has played U21s football for Harrowby United and senior football for Spalding United and Cottesmore AFC. James received the centre of excellence student of the year award last season.
Luke Papworth
Luke joined us from Gonerby YFC.
Luke completed his GCSEs at Kings Grammar School, Grantham. He now studies the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport (worth the equivalent of 3 A-Levels) at Grantham College whilst representing the college’s Elite team.
Luke has played U21s football for Harrowby United and senior football for Barrowby FC over the past two seasons. Luke received the U21s coaching staff player of the year award last season. Opportunities Interested in joining us? Grantham College COE are unique in offering various ways to access our programme. All prospective COE players can: • Register interest for a trial/assessment day • Request one of our scouts to come and watch your fixtures • Send footage of your footballing ability
For any of the above, please email [email protected]
Do you run an U16s or U18s team? Grantham College COE are offering the opportunity to utilise our experienced and knowledgeable football staff.
All U16s and U18s teams can request: • For our coaches to deliver a training session to your players • For our analyst to video and analyse a training session or fixture
For any of the above, please email [email protected] CONTACT US:
Alex Cross, Head Coach – [email protected]
Rob Bernthal, Assistant Head Coach – [email protected]
Joe Evans – Performance Analyst & Community Engagement – [email protected]
Daniel Barber, Physio/Sports Therapist – [email protected]
Tom Clayton, Goalkeeping Coach – [email protected]
Football Staff –01476 400297
www.grantham.ac.uk [email protected] 01476 400200
Grantham College Stonebridge Road Grantham Lincolnshire NG31 9AP
HAM COL T LE UNIVERSITY CENTRE AN G R E G
Football Centre of Excellence E ST 17 ABLISHED 20