B&FC launches pioneering partnership with Fleetwood Town FC to increase opportunities in football

By Blackpool and the Fylde College

07 Mar 2017

Blackpool and The Fylde College and Fleetwood Town FC have joined forces to boost opportunities in the beautiful game.

The League One club will introduce a new shadow youth team programme at the College from September, and the new partnership will mean B&FC students on the team will be the first to be considered to progress into the Fleetwood Town Youth Team set-up.

Students studying for any number of different careers at the College can already add a football element to their course programme – be their main study area in anything from sport or travel tourism to construction or engineering. This means the College can prepare people for their career, while also providing opportunities in the game should they have the required skills.

Mark Fell, director of further education at B&FC, said: “Our provision is unique in that students can add a football element to many of the other Ofsted Outstanding courses which we offer at B&FC.

“This means they can tailor their studying with a tutor-led, one-to-one experience, which isn’t offered by other local providers, creating pathways to access careers in football and coaching, or in industries related to their other areas of study.

“For girls, this is the only bespoke 11-a-side provision on the Fylde Coast and we hope to drive forward the development of the women’s game through the offer of local, high-quality provision in support of the work already going on in local clubs.”

The partnership will also mean any players – male or female – who may not currently be ready for the club’s junior squad can sign up for a College course and play for a B&FC team under the guidance of professional head coach Andy Preece, to develop their skills.

Open trials for Fleetwood’s youth team will be held at the club’s multi-million pound PoolFoot Farm complex on Tuesday 11 April and Thursday 13 April. Meanwhile, interested players can also sign up for the shadow team by contacting the College directly.

Gretar Steinson, technical director at Fleetwood Town, added: “The shadow youth team will offer players a performance pathway through the club, whilst also supporting their future career development and gaining full interaction with FTFC Youth Team. The programme gives aspiring footballers the opportunities to develop their talents and focus on full-time academic or vocational courses, should they not quite break through as a professional player.”

Students will get the opportunity to train in and wear the Fleetwood Town shirt as they play each week, representing both the college and a leading local club.

He added: “We would encourage all interested young people and their families to come along to the open trials over the Easter period.”

B&FC has been the highest performing large FE College in the country for student success for two years running, with an ethos of providing opportunities which lead to positive onward progression and successful careers. To access the programme, players must be U19 on 31 August (male) or U21 on 31 August (female). For further information, contact B&FC on 01253 504154 or email [email protected]

Latest news

1

Post Office future secured as council explores new options Abington Street Post Office

Post Office future secured as council explores new options

17 Sep 2025

2

Airframe Designs supports new defence strategy with pledge to nurture talent Jerrod Hartley

Airframe Designs supports new defence strategy with pledge to nurture talent

17 Sep 2025

3

Fox Group makes second acquisition since Stellex Capital backing Roger Thistlethwaite, managing director NMS Civil Engineering Limited. Paul Fox, CEO Fox Group. John Flood, Executive Director Fox Group

Fox Group makes second acquisition since Stellex Capital backing

17 Sep 2025

4

Villa at Wrea Green bought for £3.6m by Haythornthwaite family The Villa Wrea Green courtesy of The Villa Wrea Green

Villa at Wrea Green bought for £3.6m by Haythornthwaite family

16 Sep 2025

5

Fourth Lancashire Bodycare store to shut Nick Holloway of administrators Interpath

Fourth Lancashire Bodycare store to shut

16 Sep 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV124 September/October Launch Event
MBP Arc Cinema Preston Opening 205
Networking
18 Sep 2025

LBV124 September/October Launch Event

The Arc Cinema, Preston, PR1 2BL

08:30 - 10:30

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Ladies Lunch
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
18 Sep 2025 - 18 Sep 2025

Ladies Lunch

Lancaster Golf Club, Lancaster, LA2 0AJ

12:00 - 16:00

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September
Sept Freelancer (1).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
Chorley Council breakfast event new
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Worden Hall, Leyland, PR25 3DH

08:00 - 11:00

Speed Networking with BNI
2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
24 Sep 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Speed Networking with BNI

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day
MTD drop in session.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day, Blackburn, BB1 5QB

10:00 - 16:00

The Marketing Metrics That Matter – Sept 25
Metris 25.09.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Metrics That Matter – Sept 25

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September
TMM Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September

Chorley, PR7 2SL

18:00 - 20:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin