The establishment of a Dunedin-based centre linked to an English football club has gathered pace with confirmation of a base and trial dates.
Burnley Football Club announced two weeks ago it was planning to base a development centre in Dunedin, offering elite coaching and a potential professional pathway to promising young players.
It has now confirmed the centre will be run in partnership with the Green Island club and be based at the Sunnyvale complex.
In a statement, Burnley FC Academy Australasia said it was ''delighted'' to have forged the link with the Dunedin club.
''Green Island AFC has embraced the chance to host talented footballers from around the region on a development pathway to fulfil their playing dreams.''
Burnley academy representatives will be in Dunedin the week after next to get the ball rolling.
They are holding a presentation for prospective players and their parents at Forbury Park racecourse on Monday, February 18, starting at 7.30pm.
Trials will be held at Sunnyvale from 4.30pm on February 19 (6 to 10-year-olds) and February 20 (11 to 16-year-olds).
All keen footballers - boys and girls - are welcome at the trials. The club will then extend invitations to those players it believes are promising enough to take part in the full 45-week programme.
Burnley aims to identify about 16 players for the centre. A feeder programme called ''Strike It'' will be run for those who miss the cut but still want some involvement.
The development centre programme consists of two (in-season) or three (out-of-season) training sessions a week, for 45 weeks. It costs $660 per training phase - the first is April to September, the second October to March.
Green Island president Mark Stewart said the club was excited about forging the link with Burnley.
The English club would employ all the coaches and provide other resources. There would be no financial gain for Green Island.
''They're using Sunnyvale as a base. That's virtually it,'' he said.
The Burnley crest will be stamped on Green Island's first-team strip but the centre would be open to talented children from all clubs.
''It's not really about Green Island. It's for kids from anywhere. If they're good enough, they'll get selected.''
Three Christchurch clubs - Waimak United, Selwyn United and Nomads United - are also hosting Burnley centres.
