Combine football and study with the Albion

Albion in the Community (AITC) is now recruiting for its September 2017 intake and wants to hear from any 16-18- year-olds interested in signing-up to one of its two full-time courses.

The charity has places available on both the Level 2 Diploma in Sport, which is equivalent to four GCSEs; and the Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport, which is equivalent to three A Levels.

Scholars who have previously studied with AITC have gone on to secure places at university, both in the UK and America, while others have played futsal for England or secured football trials at professional clubs.

As well as studying towards these sporting qualifications, scholars will also represent AITC in either an 11-a-side squad or a futsal team – competing weekly against similar schemes from Premier League and Football League clubs.

Lessons take place at the American Express Community Stadium while Albion legends Guy Butters and Danny Cullip are among the coaches that deliver the practical sessions.

In fact, as well as leading training sessions both former Seagulls stars act as mentors to the scholars and also take the teams on match days.

Anyone interested in studying with AITC needs to attend a trial and there are a number of dates coming up between 13 February and 23 February at either the Falmer Sports Centre at the University of Brighton or the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre in Lancing.

Sarah McAdam, AITC’s BTEC programme manager, said: “Our BTEC courses are a brilliant way to combine football and academic study and can be a fantastic springboard to a future career in sport.

“They are open to anyone aged between 16 and 18 – male or female – and we have a number of places still available for our courses starting this September.”

For more information, or to book a place on one of the trial dates, email: [email protected] with the heading: BTEC trials.

Only people who email in advance will be allowed to take part in the trials.