Nike Football Academy Starts New Season At Loughborough
28/09/11
A new group of young footballers have begun their journey with the Nike Academy in their quest to win a professional contract.
To fulfil Nike's requirements for the Academy to have a full time permanent base, Loughborough University has been selected as their new home for the 2011-12 season with Loughborough College delivering the all-important educational aspect of the programme.
The Nike Academy is a professional football development programme that is run by Nike and supported by the Premier League.
It has one aim - to help and support highly skilled and committed young footballers to reach their potential and make it as a professional.
The 22 players in the Academy are from across the UK, and for the first time are joined by international team mates from Belgium, France, South Africa, Ghana, Korea and Australia.
The town was selected as the new home for the aspiring sportsmen as it was able to match Nike's intentions to offer a football development experience that develops the individual's football abilities, alongside offering an appropriate educational programme.
Loughborough are also offering access to its world class sports facilities as well as conditioning and sport medicine provision, along with office desk space and support for the Academy staff and coaches.
Jimmy Gilligan, the current England U21 scout and former Watford striker, is the Nike Academy Head Coach and under his watch the squad will train six days a week at their new full-time base, making the most of the extensive sport facitilties on campus.
Jimmy is supported in his role as Head Coach by Director of Football Huw Jennings, the former Head of Youth Football at the Premier League and current Academy Director at Fulham F.C.
Gilligan said: "The Nike Academy provides young footballers with the opportunity to develop as players and showcase their talent.
"The Nike Academy coaches and I are dedicated to providing these players with the best training programmes, best football networks and sporting facilities to help them realise their full potential.
Mike Foster, Director of Football at the Premier League, added: "The Nike Academy is an excellent example of the growing partnership between the Premier League and Nike.
"We have worked together now for 11 seasons and over the last few years we have seen the Nike Academy develop into a first class facility for young talent to continue their careers in football."
You can find out more about the Nike Academy and watch the players progress during the season by visiting www.nike.com/nikefootball or www.facebook.com/NikeAcademy
