CHILDREN looking to have extra football training will soon have a new centre to hone their skills.

The Oxfordshire Skill Acquisition Academy is kicking off next month, with its first training session next Friday.

It has been set up by two trainers, Declan McGovern and Adam Bowerman.

Mr Bowerman, 22, said: “It will be run as a development centre to give them the opportunity to play academy football.

“It will bridge that gap between grass-roots football and professional academies.”

The main academy in Oxfordshire, the Oxford United Football and Education Academy, trains pupils to prepare them for professional footballing life, alongside academic education.

Mr Bowerman said that the new academy was less selective and would give the youngsters more freedom.

The Cassington resident said: “This means the kids aren’t tied to any team, they can play for anyone.

“It’ll be open for anyone who wants to get that sort of training.

“They’ll just train with us and they can still do their grass-roots football clubs.”

He said that it will cost £4 a session, and there will be several sessions for different age groups – between six and 11 – each week.

The academy will be based at St Gregory the Great Catholic School in Cricket Road.

 

 

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