College's link with football club will boost young West Sussex footballers

After speaking to various clubs over the summer, it was decided Selsey would be the right club to begin a fresh long-term project for the college.

Coaches Darin Killpartrick, Dave Daniel and Paul Hinshelwood like the set-up at Selsey and hope the link will help them produce more players to a high standard.

It will give college footballers a chance to test themselves in league football and enable Selsey to develop local young talent.

Four of last season’s elite squad from the college featured in Selsey’s pre-season game against Sidlesham, which ended 0-0.

A number of others have featured in more recent Selsey warm-up games.

Rhys Griffiths, Frazer Smith, Luke Kilner and Jake Burden all impressed during the first run-out and hope to nail down a regular spot in Selsey’s plans for the coming campaign.

Two more academy players played in the Selsey seconds’ game against Locks Heath.

Tommy Dahl-Hansen scored two and Jake Goulding also appeared.

Hinshelwood will take charge of an under-18s team at Selsey using players from Chichester College’s first and second years. More experienced students will be integrated into the reserve and first teams at the High Street Ground.

Chichester College and Selsey say they’re fully committed to the progression of young players.

The coaching team at the college will work closely with the managers and coaches at Selsey to ensure every player in the college’s elite squad is given every opportunity to establish himself in senior adult football, while playing a high standard of youth football in the ECFA and Sussex County youth leagues.

Killpartrick has a fantastic reputation for developing players through the college, with several students representing England and Sussex schools and colleges over the past eight years.

Last season’s college captain Jamie Crelin (pictured above) has recently signed for Ryman premier side Hastings after a successful trial and played against an Arsenal side in a recent friendly.

Other ex-Chichester College footballers who have gone on to greater things include Mickey Demetriou, who has just signed for Kidderminster after a spell at the Glenn Hoddle Academy, and James Crane, Matt Whitehead, Charlie Marshall, Matt Wood, who have all played for Bognor.

Selsey chairman David Lee said: “It’s a great link-up for the football club and for the college.

“It’s part of a long-term plan we have to develop our local young players and give them a platform to go on to bigger and better things.”