Club Statement | Spartans launch first-ever Elite Academy Programme

Blyth Spartans AFC is excited to announce the launch of its first Elite Academy Programme.

While Blyth Spartans Junior are a well-established community football club that offers opportunities for all ages and abilities, this year, in addition to the junior club, will be a Blyth Spartans Academy, which will represent the club in the Junior Premier League (JPL).

The academy will focus on Elite Player Performance, developing their technical, tactical, physical and mental capabilities. Coaching will be delivered by the professional Dugout Football Coaching, with sessions either held on the 3G training pitch or within the indoor Elite Performance Centre. Some sessions and player mentoring will also be offered by the first-team coaching staff.

Just like the professional academies, there will be mutiple training sessions per week, including age-specific strength and conditioning. Players will be constantly assessed to ensure the pace of development is maintained and additional 1-2-1 coaching will be provided where specific individual needs require this.

The academy aims to offer the best of both worlds; players will be challenged and pushed during advanced midweek training sessions and will play matches at a high standard on a Saturday. On a Sunday, players can either play for Blyth Spartans within in the NFL or they are free to continue to play for their own team with their friends.

This is the perfect opportunity for players who missed out on being signed by the large North East Academies to continue to develop without a divide forming between club and academy football players.

Blyth Spartans AFC are extremely enthusiastic about the offering that the academy will provide as it is the final piece of the complete football jigsaw. Now, as a club, Blyth Spartans can offer early-stage development through Little Spartans for 4-6 years old, as well as an Advanced Development Squad for under-6s. Junior teams of all abilities will run from under-7s to under-16s with the academy programme eventually running from under-9s to under-18s.

Spartans will continue to run their under-19s football programme in partnership with Tyne Metropolitan College, who will compete in the National League Academy division on Wednesday afternoons.

Next season, the academy will start with the under-9s age group, however the club is open to discussions regarding older age groups should the right individuals/ groups or players/coaches express an interest.

For anyone wanting to know more information about next year's under-9s academy or if you wish to express an interest in the older age groups, please email [email protected]