Southern United has launched its academy, which will replace the Football Talent Centre programme.
The academy will get players from ages 13-16 from around the federation receiving high-level coaching and football education.
That is in contrast to the FTCs, which were regionally based.Trials for the academy begin tomorrow, with 16-22 players being selected in each age group.
The squads would train together on weekends, have camps and travel to tournaments.Southern United coach Paul O’Reilly — who is also Football South’s football development manager — said it would increase the contact hours players had with coaches.
Coaches would include the federation’s football development officers, as well as Southern United players and other coaches from around the federation.
He said the main goal was to see players come out of the academy and move into the Southern United youth team and then on to bigger things.
O’Reilly said the regional-based teams would continue to operate, with the best players from each being in the Southern United academy.
