BURTON Albion Academy and Burton Albion Ladies took part in a joint training session last night aimed at encouraging further enjoyment of youth football.
The co-training is not only an ideal opportunity for Albion’s youth teams from both sides to get to know each other better, but a series of fun sessions were set up on the 3G pitch at the Burton Albion Community Football Centre to encourage all youngsters to enjoy their football.
And with sides from under-9s right up to under-16s taking part, the players certainly had a fun experience working with coaches from the Academy, Burton Albion Ladies and the Community Trust.
The evening also allowed Burton Albion’s coaching staff to share their knowledge, expertise and approaches across both men’s and ladies’ setups, giving all players equal opportunity to shine and progress in their respective careers.
With the likes of former Brewers stars Keith Gilroy and Robbie Weir from the Academy side as well as Burton Albion Ladies First Team Manager James Billings providing vast experience in coaching elements of the development phases, both Academy and Ladies’ sides can benefit.
Academy manager Dan Robinson said: “It is a fantastic opportunity for the Academy, Community Trust and Ladies’ programmes to show their allegiance and togetherness.
“It also shows how the club works together, how we have development programmes for both boys and girls and they are very much aligned with the way that we work.
“It allows our coaches and staff to work together and learn off each other.”
Burton Albion Commercial Director Fleur Robinson said: “We brought Burton Albion Ladies closer under the Burton Albion umbrella last summer with the aim of producing a pathway for young girls to play and enjoy their football.
“Enjoying football is a vital part of the pathway for young players at Burton Albion, in our mens’ and ladies’ Academies, and bringing both sides together for these fun sessions will only enhance that.
“Burton Albion is a community club at heart and being able to put on training sessions like this can only benefit those young local players who want the best footballing education, while enjoying playing the sport we all love.
"I would like to thank all of the coaches and volunteers who made the night possible."