Chester FC Community Trust has deferred the start of the Chester FC Football Education Programme to September 2021.
 
The coronavirus pandemic has posed a number of significant challenges to the education scheme and the board of trustees and our education partners SCL have therefore agreed to postpone the start of the programme for 12 months.
 
Due to Covid-19 and the lockdown restrictions, it has not been possible to organise taster sessions, recruitment events and trials for potential students while social distancing means the football development element of the scheme is unclear in terms of providing safe training and matches, the status of competitions, access to facilities and oppportunities to gain practical coaching experience.
 
The trustees felt that given these challenges, the uncertain landscape and the Community Trust’s commitment to providing an outstanding experience for students both in and out of the classroom, the best course of action was to defer the start the programme until September 2021.
 
Jim Green, Community Trust CEO, said: “While we are disappointed the programme will not be able to launch as planned, we believe it is the right decision given the unprecedented times in which we find ourselves.
 
“We want to ensure students have the best experience possible to enable them to realise their potential and we don’t believe this will be possible given the huge uncertainty around key elements of the programme.
 
“Together with SCL, we will support those young people who have applied for the programme, either through offering them a place for September 2021 or helping them find an alternative course.
 
“Our focus now is to ensure everything is in place for the 2021/22 academic year by which time we expect the new King George V Sports Hub to be completed with teaching and sporting facilities on a fantastic new site.”
 
The Chester FC Football Education Programme is a two-year full-time course for 16-18-year-olds who want to turn their passion for sport into a career.
 
Students will gain a NCFE Diploma in Sport alongside a football development programme offering them daily training, competitive fixtures and the chance to complete FA coaching qualifications.
 
The course will compliment the club’s current academy scholarship programme and is aimed at young people with desire to pursue a career in sport or progress to university and will equip them with the skills, knowledge and experience to move into employment or further study.
 
Combining classroom and digital learning with high quality coaching, competitive football and guidance on fitness and nutrition, the innovative programme will help the students reach their full potential on and off the pitch.
 
For more information visit www.wearescl.co.uk/chester-fc or email community@chesterfc.com.