FORMER England and Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler is expanding his football academy into Warrington through Sandymoor School and Warrington Town Football Club.
Sandymoor School and the Fowler Education & Football Academy (FEFA) are launching a new course at Sandymoor in conjunction with Warrington Town Football Club in September 2018.
Emma Simpson, Principal at Sandymoor School said, “This is an exciting moment in the development of our sixth form through our partnership with FEFA and Warrington Town Football Club; giving local young people a route into future careers in the football and sporting industry both locally and internationally.”
It’s three years since Robbie Fowler launched his grand plan to help Merseyside youngsters.
The anniversary has been celebrated in style with a host of success stories both on and off the field for FEFA. The Wavertree Sports Park-based centre provides 16 to 19 year olds with a variety of courses, which combine football coaching with classroom work.
The Fowler Academy has around 60 students but that figure will exceed 100 come September when they expand into a second site at Sandymoor School following a link up with Warrington Town. There are close ties with the club as Warrington Town’s assistant manager Mark Beesley is also in charge of FEFA’s under-17s. Further expansion is planned with other sites in North Wales under consideration as well as a potential partnership in the Middle East.
FEFA are taking a 20-strong squad out to the Dubai Super Cup in April. Scott Fowler, Robbie’s younger brother, is the Academy’s head of operations. He said; “It’s a four-day tournament with Brazilian Ronaldo’s Academy being one of the other teams taking part so it will be a really good test for the lads.”
On the field, FEFA’s first team have just won the English Colleges Premier League. The second team are well placed to retain their Merseyside Elite title they won last season. The under-17s are five points clear at the top as they bid to retain the title they won last season. FEFA could actually win five trophies this season which would surpass any other college in the UK.
Academy principal Brian McGorry, the former Bournemouth and Peterborough midfielder, is a qualified Sport Scientist and Teacher. He also has 20 years of teaching experience and working as a performance expert. He says, “We’ve already taken near our maximum of students for the next intake in September in Liverpool. We are the only College in the UK offering the high standard of football and qualifications. The level of coaching rivals professional academies. Added to this is player analysis, heart rate and GPS data. It really is impressive.”
The course will offer students the following pathways:
• Scholarships to the USA
• University
• Coaching in the USA
• Employment within the Sport and Leisure Industry
The list of qualifications that FEFA offer are impressive and unique within the UK:
• BTEC Sport and Exercise Science Extended Diploma
• Gym Instructor
• Personal Trainer
• Lifeguard
• FA coaching qualifications
McGorry continues, “Added to this is our Sports Science expertise, A licence coaches and Outstanding Teaching. The overall package that is offered to students is extremely strong.
The education results are highly impressive with some 80% of graduates moving on to university last September after two years with FEFA. This isn’t a case of Robbie Fowler just putting his name to something and leaving us to it. We get brilliant support from him and he’s very passionate about the education side. It’s why he wanted to get involved.”
Warrington Town Chairman Toby Macormac added, “This is a great opportunity for the club to partner up with a progressive local school and work with FEFA to provide a pathway to semi and professional football for the students. Recently nine FEFA students featured in First Team cup fixture’s underlining the possibilities open to them and to enable Warrington Town FC to bring through some future stars.”
Sandymoor School look forward to welcoming their new students in September.
