Morpeth Town AFC Academy
Our post-16 Academy football/education programme began it’s recruitment of student footballers in December 2020 and after agreeing an exclusive education partnership took on it’s first intake of players that summer beginning in September 2021.
The vision of our post-16 Academy was to give the young people of Northumberland somewhere they could achieve a first class education while training and playing the game they love full-time.
Building a new formidable partnership for 2024 with education specialists Northumberland College, and backed by extensive engineering and construction connections associated with Academy board members, Morpeth Town became the first full-time football college programme in the country to offer trades such as:
- Brickwork
- Plumbing
- Dry Lining
- Welding
- Engineering
- Electrical Installation
A fully integrated football programme led by professionals, we were the first programme in the UK to offer this pathway alongside the popular common university pathways of A-Levels & Extended Diplomas in areas such as sport and business. This has recently been extended to include degree pathways.
There is a range of education options, and that is built on the foundation of the football element of the course, an outstanding programme led by our former FA Vase winning manager, UEFA A-Licence coach Nick Gray, with Sports Science & Medical support led by first team staff member Steven Shaw.
The high-quality team of coaches includes current first team players and ex-professional footballers Ryan Donaldson, Ryan Wombwell, who are able to give the players the benefit of their experiences as well as being able to assess and highlight players who may be able to make the big step into the first team squad.
The goalkeeping department is led by ex-Newcastle United goalkeeper Nathan Harker.
The players receive daily sports science support with live GPS data analysis using the Catapult Playertek +, individualised strength and conditioning programmes and daily sports therapy support. Games are filmed on VEO camera with coaches then taking players through match analysis sessions on a weekly basis to improve both technically and tactically as individuals and as a group.
Our programme is the only one in the region that sees all games taking place on the first team’s main 3G pitch, a top of the range synthetic turf that is at the forefront of high quality football surfaces.
Taking part in the National Football Youth League, ECFA Category One and national cup competitions, including the prestigious FA Youth Cup, Morpeth’s youth teams also have an Under-17 & U18 teams that compete on a Saturday to allow players a chance to develop in a competitive environment before making steps into senior football.
We have been delighted that some of our players have already represented senior clubs at levels from Northern League Division 1 and 2, Northern Alliance and Wearside league clubs as well as now having over 10 players represent our first team in the Northern Premier League, a phenomenal achievement that is just the beginning.
Building clear pathways to brighter futures, if you are interested in joining our academy contact us at: academy@morpethtownafc.com
Academy Honour Roll
Academy Youth System to First Team Debutants
Bailey Geliher
Debut: 14/09/21 / vs Lancaster City (H) / 2-2
Competition: Northern Premier League
Age: 16 years 2 months
Youth Pathway: Academy U17
Noah Millington
Debut: 14/09/21 / Vs Lancaster City (H) / 2-2
Competition: Northern Premier League
Age: 16 years 9 months
Youth Pathway: Academy U17
Tom Wales
Debut: 12/03/21 / Vs Mickleover FC (H) / 3-1
Competition: Northern Premier League
Age: 17 years 6 months
Youth Pathway: Academy U17/Junior
First Team Goalscorers
Bailey Geliher
Henry Harvey
Matt Boyd
Bailey Geliher
Noah Millington
Tom Wales
Godwin Williams
Henry Harvey
Jacob Holmes
Matt Boyd
Matty Griggs
Sam Davison
Ryan Chater
Oscar Baston
Mason Taylor
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