A NEW football college in Colchester will pave the way for players to access their dream jobs.

Stanway Rovers Football Club has applied to Colchester Council to build a new football college at the site in New Farm Road.

The college will be for players between 16 and 18-years-old and will offer a two year football and educational scholarship programme.

The programme will include regular fixtures and friendlies against professional clubs, a pathway into first-team football and chance to gain coaching qualifications.

Students will have the chance to retake English and maths exams, as well as a Level 3 extended diploma which is the equivalent of three A Levels.

The six demountable cabins will include classrooms, toilets, kitchen and office on disused land north west of the clubhouse.

The cabins will be in club colours of yellow and black.

Tens of thousands of pounds have gone into setting up the project.

Angelo Harrop, director of football at Stanway Rovers, who is overseeing the project, said: “I was working at the Colne Football Academy for about ten years and thought the Stanway location was a no brainer to set up a college.

“For me to be able to get an education as well as play football is a great opportunity.

“There’s going to be a really good structure next year, we will be able to get them into different sport coaching companies and they will be able to go onto university as well.”

“As a club we have really good pathways from the college to the first team or reserves.”

The club had its first trial session on Saturday and 25 people came - 10 places were offered for the college, which is due to open next year.

There are currently 330 players across the football club’s youth system, with 70 coaches.

Other qualifications available at the college will be a Level 1 diploma in in football coaching and refereeing.

Angelo added: “I’m really excited and the board has really got behind what I’m trying to set up, we can’t fail as we have got boys coming from all different areas and we are giving them a fantastic opportunity to succeed.”

In its first year the college will take between 16 and 20 students.

To begin with it will be just for male players, with a view to expand the offer to female players in the future.

The space will also be used as a board room and for staff meetings.

The next trial day will be on April 17.

For more information contact angeloharrop@hotmail.co.uk.