The purpose of The Football Association Programme for Excellence is to identify players of outstanding ability and place them in a technical and educational programme designed to produce football excellence in conjunction with personal development.
The Hull College Girls’ Centre of Excellence, which represents girls within the East Riding, has been operating successfully for five years, with the first competitive season in 2004. The centre, funded by the FA, is operated by Hull College and is based at the Learning Zone within the KC Stadium. The centre has to meet strict criteria outlined by the Football Association, as this is the pathway that future England Internationals will come through.
The aim of the Centre is to identify and train elite players of the future and potential England internationals. Top players in each age group will get an opportunity within the season to attend one of the regional camps that are taking place across the country alongside fixtures that have England scouts present. These camps will act as a focal point for England selection for girls from the U14 and U16 age categories.
Following her U17 debut against Denmark in May last year, former Goole Town and Centre of Excellence player Ni Chadwick is currently representing England with the U19’s team having travelled to New Zealand to compete in the World Cup whilst also playing for Doncaster Rovers Belles First Team including the League Cup Final against Arsenal. Former Malet Lambert player Evie Robinson was recently selected to travel to Frankfurt with the England U15’s squad to play against Germany whilst former Driffield player Lauren Asquith recently attended the Northern Ireland training camp in August prior to the Euro 2009 qualifiers.
The centre has teams at U10’s, U12’s, U14’s and U16’s. Girls train twice a week on Monday and Wednesday nights on the 3G pitches at Longcroft School and Hull University, with weekly fixtures being played on Saturdays between September and April. Matches are played against other centres of excellence such as York, West Riding, Middlesbrough, Sheffield United, Liverpool and Everton. 2 Coaches work with each age group, both of which have a minimum level 2 coaching qualification.
The unique relationship between the centre of excellence and Hull College offers players an exit route at age 16 into further education whilst still providing a high quality football playing opportunity where players can be monitored closely.
Clubs, schools and parents have the opportunity to nominate players for Centre of Excellence trials.
Trials for 2009/2010 Season
Trials at the Centre of Excellence take place throughout the year and those interested should contact Paul Smith, Centre Director on 07851678429 or email paulsmith@hull-college.ac.uk or Liz Gill, Centre Administrator on 01482 381947 or email egill@hull-college.ac.uk
Alternatively, for further information please click on the following link: http://www.hull-college.ac.uk/index.php?page=hull-college-girls-centre-of-excellence