Harrogate Town AFC links up play with Rossett School to create new Football Academy

Town’s partnership with Rossett School, will see the Harrogate school become the home of our new Football Academy.

Academy home games will be played on the 3G at Rossett School and they plan to compete in a competitive league from the next season (2025/26).

Players will study as a Rossett School student working towards a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport. This will give them the equivalent UCAS points (as 3 A-Levels) required for university, if they consider this as an option in the future.

This development forms part of the Club’s New Youth Development Strategy, with further plans to be revealed in the coming months as the club aims to create more opportunities for local talented young players towards their dream of a professional playing career, with a realistic pathway into the first team squad.

Growing success

Dave Riley, Operations Director at Harrogate Town said: “We’ve had amazing success through our Academy team since its formation four seasons ago and the young talented players coming through have been a credit to themselves and our club.

“As a growing and evolving Club looking towards the future, we wanted to focus more on local talent whilst ensuring that a pathway remains from them starting out through our Player Development Centre, all the way through to first team level football.

“We have a great partnership with Rossett School and we are excited about working together to further strengthen our partnership, with Headteacher Tim Milburn influential in the whole process.

“It’s a fantastic facility and we are really proud to call Rossett School the home of the Harrogate Town Football Academy where we hope to develop young students into well rounded players and people.”

Richard Jones, Academy Manager added: “It has been important that we have a provision in place to continue the development of an U18/U19s football programme, to maintain a transition from the APDC and external U16 footballers for those that want to continue their studies.

“The Harrogate Town Football Academy programme will be worked around a bespoke education timetable to enable players to complete full-time education in the subject they enjoy, at the same time as continuing with their football development.

“The partnership we have set up with Rossett School will also give options to study Further Education in other subject areas - these will be agreed on a case-by-case basis - which will be a new avenue for us, so although the BTEC course will be specifically designed around the football programme it is encouraged for all applicants to get application forms in even if they want to study towards different courses at Rossett, as these can also be considered.”

Pathway to professional football

Rossett Headteacher Tim Milburn said: “Rossett School is really proud to partner with HTAFC. By working together, we now offer a pathway for young people to pursue their dreams of professional football, whilst learning, training and playing at great campus.

“We are looking forward to welcoming the next generation to Rossett School and are excited to see their successes in the classroom and on the pitch.”

Applications are now open and can be submitted here.

Information on the application form will provide the club with the necessary information to review grading criteria from an educational perspective and to form correspondence regarding football trials – these will be arranged in the coming months.

If you’d like to know more about the Harrogate Town Football Academy, or have any questions, you can email [email protected].