TEENAGE boys can combine playing football with studying for a qualification as part of a new course at Knutsford Academy.

The Studio School, in partnership with Egerton Football Club, plans to offer a mixed programme for sixth formers that encourages them to pursue their passion for the game along a potential pathway to higher education.

It will run for the first time from next September.

“We’re excited to have reached this point,” said Nicola Hall, Studio headteacher.

“All of our offers are geared to preparing students for life beyond school, whether that’s to stay in education or to start working.

“This is not something just for talented players, it’s richer than that.

“The community element, which is where Egerton comes in, is so important.

“It’s there the academic part will hopefully come to life.”

Boys on the course will work with qualified coaches at Egerton’s home on Mereheath Lane.

They will also have a chance to deliver practice sessions themselves for junior teams there.

There is an option as well to train as a referee.

Hall said: “We’ve made progress quickly since asking Egerton if they would like to assist.

“We were conscious already of their standing in the town and the community, and it made sense to find a way of making that fit with what we want to achieve.”

Tom O’Donnell, chairman at Egerton, told the Guardian he is confident the partnership will be a success.

He added: “We feel it’s right for us to be involved.

“We have the full range of football players here, a big proportion of them what you would describe as non-elite.

“Instead our focus has always been on making their experience of the game as memorable as possible.

“We already do a number of things that the course will offer, such as supporting to achieve qualifications as a coach or a referee.”

The Studio School looked at how professional football clubs run their academies while considering how to structure their own.

And Hall believes what they will offer is distinct.

She said: “Our aim is different to theirs; we’re not setting out to produce players.

“Instead we’re attaching as much value to the academic part of the programme so that our students have a range of skills they can use after leaving."

“We’ll be flexible, and students can choose to focus on their specific interests, be that sport, business or the media.”

An opening evening is scheduled for February.

For further details, email footballacademy@knutsfordacademy.org.uk