The partnership which has developed between Witton Albion and Mid Cheshire College has already started to pay off for both parties, with three of the college students set to sign for the Wincham Park outfit ahead of the new season.

The college football development programme was launched in 2004, and offers young footballers the opportunity to combine playing with studying an academic course and was awarded the coveted FA Charter Standard Status in 2006. The programme allows successful applicants the opportunity to study for nationally recognised qualifications whilst benefiting from expert coaching from UEFA licensed coaches.

John Reilly, Principal at Mid Cheshire College commented: “We are delighted to announce the partnership between Mid Cheshire College and Witton Albion FC. It is hoped that this collaboration between two major local institutions will benefit the community and offer youngsters in the local area an opportunity to combine academic study whilst pursuing their sporting aspirations.”

With three of this years intake due to join Witton for pre-season training, manager Paul Ogden said: “It’s important that we as a club look to bring players in who want to progress, these lads fit that bill and come highly recommended by their coaches.

“I’ve had a number of meetings with Joel (Roberts) and Jon (McCarthy) to discuss what we can offer their students and they in turn have outlined their thoughts. I believe that what we are doing will prove to be very beneficial for both organisations. The lads are local, intelligent, they want to play football at a good standard and they will be given every opportunity and encouragement to achieve their ambitions at Witton Albion.”

With a youth team scheduled to come into operation for the start of the 2011/12 season at Witton, the Head of Football Development at Mid Cheshire College, Joel Roberts, added: “With the quality of staff we have, both in terms of qualifications and experience, the foundations of a successful youth system are already in place. We are now fortunate to be joining forces with a club that has a structure in place that will offer those players, who we feel have the potential, an opportunity to progress further. As a result it is hoped that sometime in the not too distant future they will have the opportunity to play for the first team.”

The Mid Cheshire College team will next season play all their home fixtures at the Wincham Park stadium.

It’s not only the football development programme that Witton will be working with, as the photographic students are likely to be regular visitors to Wincham Park, while it is hoped that the Arts & Media students will also grasp the opportunity that the links with the club can offer them.

Photo - left to right
Joel Roberts (Mid Cheshire College), Paul Ogden, Jon McCarthy (Mid Cheshire College)