Media team sponsored by Northumbria Print

Interest in the Morpeth Town AFC Academy continues to grow, with numbers surpassing expectation already.

The man in charge of the operation, Academy Director Nick Gray, revealed uptake has been swift and demand high with the Highwaymen set to begin their academy set-up in September.

A lot of hard work has gone on behind the scenes to create an academy, which the club are determined will be a massive benefit to football-loving students in Northumberland and beyond.

“The interest in the academy has been fantastic and the number of people interested is more than I imagined,” said Gray when talking to the club website.

“We knew we would have interest but never thought we would have received the amount of enquiries we have.

“We have even had players wanting to come for the next intake which will be September 2022! I’m delighted and slightly surprised with the numbers.

“I was always confident of the program being a success, but I did think it would take two to three years to reach its capacity in numbers.”

The academy is one of a number of projects currently being worked on at Craik Park, with Gray better suited than most to comment on the rapid evolution taking place at the Highwaymen.

“I’m into my 11th year at the club and have seen the club progress hugely both on and off the pitch; it’s in a vibrant place,” he continued.

“Morpeth Town has always had the thought process to progress but it’s fantastic to see the club, with Ken (Beattie, club chairman) at the helm, actually starting to show its potential.

“The future of the club is in a wonderful position and I can’t wait to see the students start their journeys into football and/or trades, and education.

“Having restricted numbers, we look forward to being able to give them all realistic pathways at the end of their time at academy.

“I have every confidence those players/students will love every moment and will be the academy’s best advertisement for future cohorts.”

If you would like further information about our academy set-up, please email academy@morpethtownafc.com.