Wealdstone announce significant Academy expansion

We are delighted to announce that Wealdstone FC has officially opened a second academy site based at Brunel University. The Wealdstone FC Academy Brunel site will be run in partnership between Wealdstone FC, Football Fitness & First and Brunel University.

The Wealdstone FC academy offers football and education opportunities for 16- to 23-year-olds and the expanded academy at Brunel will initially offer places for up to 100 students with potentially more places available should the initial 100 places be filled.

Cameron Mawer Head of Player Development at Wealdstone FC said “Opening a second academy site is hugely significant for the football club, the facilities at Brunel are state of the art, itincreases the range of educational courses we can offer and it gives us for the first time a base for those looking to continue in either football or education aged 19+.

"As a direct result of the expansion, we will be introducing an elite U23s team to help bridge the gap between the academy and the first team and to further improve our player development pathway we are also teaming up with a number of local teams playing further down the football pyramid to enable our academy players to play adult football at the appropriate level based on where they are in their development cycle.”

The Wealdstone FC academy will now operate out of two fantastic sites at Harefield Academy and Brunel University and will mean that the club will now have places available for up to 170 Wealdstone scholars each year.

The Wealdstone Academy at Brunel will be run by Academy manager Dale Welch who has a wealth of experience of running academies being the founder of the London Football Academy whose Alumni include current Reading player Mamadi Camera, and Rochdale striker Abraham Odoh.

Dale added “I am so excited to be working with Wealdstone FC and supporting the development of young players who are striving to play in the 1st team as well as helping them to achieve skills, experience and qualifications that will help them progress into other careers”.

Darren Linden, Wealdstone FC's Engagement, Community & Academy Director said “We've long believed that the best young players in the area should be developing at Wealdstone FC and the introduction of a second academy site is a big step in that direction.

"The growth of the academy over the last year is something for everyone at the club to be proud of, we now need to ensure that we create a realistic pathway from youth football into the first team to provide Stuart and the management team with a pipeline of homegrown talent that can have an impact in the National League. We're very confident that Cameron and Dale will make this happen.

Interested in joining The Wealdstone FC Academy? the next trials take place at Harefield Academy on the 9th May (6pm) and 31st May (10.30). The next trial at the new Wealdstone Academy at Brunel University will be on the 2nd June 16-18 year olds 10.30 – 12 and 19+ 12.30pm to 2pm. For more information contact us at academy@Wealdstonefc.com

 About the Wealdstone FC Academy

The Wealdstone Academy is a sports and education programme run in partnerships between Vanarama National League side Wealdstone FC, Harefield Academy & Brunel University.

Our vision is clear: to create an environment for 16-23-year-olds to progress within both sports and education surrounded by first class facilities and resources.

We offer a large number of education options available including BTEC Level 3 qualifications, A Levels, Level 2 Diplomas in Gym Instructing and degree level qualifications. Students will also benefit from working with UEFA A & B License Coaches, current and ex professionals and playing in the National Under 19 Alliance league – the highest ranked league outside of the professional game for this age group in the United Kingdom, as well as our network of local partner clubs.

We strive to give all of our players more opportunities and greater experiences designed to help them progress on and off the pitch. We aim to not only develop the players as footballers, but as individuals.