BURTON Albion first team players Shaun Barker and John Brayford visited the Burton Albion Community Trust (BACT) Football and Education trial day at St George’s Park.
The Football and Education Programme is delivered in partnership with Burtonand South Derbyshire College. The programme is designed to guide males aged 16-18 though their journey as student athletes.
The course combines practical and theory-based approaches to increase an athlete’s performance on the field and increase their knowledge of the wider sporting industry.
The programme enables you gain an excellent education by gaining industry recognised qualifications delivered by Burton and South Derbyshire College and you will train and play for Burton Albion Football Club with coaching received from UEFA and FA qualified football coaches.
Individuals are offered to study at Level 2 and Level 3 depending on prior attainment.
Brewers defender Brayford, came through the programme as a 16-year-old with Burton Albion back at Eton Park, which lead to the defender going on to also play for Crewe Alexandra, Derby County, Cardiff City and Sheffield United, before returning to Burton Albion under current manager Nigel Clough.
Wayne Chadfield, Football and Education Manager at BACT, said: “We’re really grateful for the lads coming down after their training session to talk to the interested youngsters and their parents at the trial day.
“John obviously came through the programme himself when he was younger and has been our biggest success story to date. It’s unlikely that many people will be able to go on to achieve what he has in his career from enrolling on the course, but we hope to try and help each and every one of the individuals that take on to go as far as they possibly can, whether it be in football or the wider working industry.
“Having the two players there to share their stories and experiences is really inspiring and we hope that it can help to give all interested parties the insight of what it takes to be successful.”
The next trial date is Tuesday, April 4 at the Burton Albion Community Footballl Centre, Pirelli Stadium (DE13 0AR), from 4pm-8pm. For more information, please email wayne.chadfield@burtonalbionct.org