Half term has come at a very exciting time at the academy as we've been asked to lead a VLUK Elite side on a footballing trip to China to take part in the prestigious China International Youth Tournament in Shanghai. This is a fantastic compliment to the programme to be given the responsibility of leading a "Team England" side on an international tournament for VLUK the countries leading Sport Education Provider.

We have also been selected as a Higher Education site, this means we are 1 of a handful of VLUK sites in the country that can now offer a foundation degree as an exit route after the 2 year Btec. The FD students will be studying at The Lee Westwood Golf Academy at the prestigious Stoke by Nayland Hotel and Spa (Colchester) 2 days a week and use Ware FC as a study base allowing them to continue to play and train with the college sides when study allows.

Our purpose built academy learning zone is nearing completion with the doors and shutters now fitted, floor, ceiling and cladding will be next before we can start the internal fit out. The "hub" will house 30 students and will be used as an additional study area for them, complete with its own garden area and managers office where we will be extending our social media and analysis activities.

Wednesday sees the third of our open days, we use the term "open" rather than "trial" as we are not Elitist and although the playing side of the game is an important aspect of the programme we realise in the real world young adults may have career goals already and therefore want inspiration and guidance down other paths than football. A perfect example of this would be Harry Pluckrose, Harry was a student with us from September 2013 to July 2015, he left the programme with triple distinction star (D*D*D*), this is the equivalent to 3 A* at A levels for UCAS points. Harry was accepted onto the fantastic Bucks University course at Wembley Stadium to study Sports Media and Business. 3 months into the programme Harry was approached by The F2 Freestylers who have now taken him full time to assist in filming, editing and social media. Harry's first job was being flown to Germany to be shown round the Adidas HQ then 2 days later filming with Dele Alli on another Adidas job! Not bad for an average (by his own admission!) footballer but an excellent student and very focussed.

It's exciting to sit back and see how the 2nd years have grown in confidence, maturity and as young men. 9 of the students are starting to receive Uni offers, and 1 student has already received 5 offers for colleges and high schools in America including California, New York, Texas, Minnesota and Georgia. These decisions the boys have to make can be life changing and its important we help as much as we can by giving an educated insight into the different decisions. Along with the parents we can guide and advise but essentially it is the boys decision and history tells us they generally make good choices.

On the playing front the 1st group remain joint top with Dereham FC in Norfolk, we recently played them away and drew 1-1 in a very tight game. Since Christmas the group have scored 11 and conceded 5 in 3 wins and a draw, Josh Stevens has continued his goalscoring form with 4 in 2 games, Charlie Ruff has cemented an U21s place and is on his own streak scoring 2 and having a hand in 7 of the 11 goals scored.

The 2nd group is made up of mostly second years so are a physically developed team, they play in the VLUK NSDL league and have had 3 excellent results including beating top of the league 10 Football 4-1. Tooting and Mitcham based 10 Football had played 8 and won 8 leading up to the game so made the result even more impressive. Whilst on the subject of 10 Football the programme and in particular the lead Mark Smith deserve a lot of praise, they recently had a boy Toyosi Olusanya sign his pro at AFC Wimbledon. Toyosi ripped us apart twice last season and I even sent him into trial at 2 pro clubs off the back of his performances against us!

The development group are bubbling along nicely, they're a young group with a couple of experienced 2nd years in there to lead on the pitch. They played a lot of games pre Christmas so have only played friendlies and internals this term so far. We are hoping they kick on in league games again next half term and more boys move up to the 2nd group. The way the groups are set up allows freedom of movement up and down groups each half term (6 weeks or so) so we were delighted to see Dom Edwards, Josh Tilly and Harry Living move up groups last term.

As some of you may be aware we are heavily involved in the U21 group, this allows us to monitor progression of our scholars when they leave after 2 years and also to challenge existing players. Due to fixtures falling kindly Ken Charlery our first team manager has taken the time to come over and watch the past couple of 21s games and has been impressed with the quality of the academy boys involved. With the season being a transition season for the club we are hoping some more of the academy boys will get a chance in future 1st team squads.

They are starting to play senior football, Charlie Ruff last week signed for Hertford Town, Matt Nolan is signed at Chesham, Paolo Montella has been involved at Hadley Wood and Wingate, Nick Briggs at Broxbourne Boro and Caleb Steele recently involved with St Margaretsbury. This is fantastic for the players to progress into men's football before they hopefully make the step to our 1st team.

Injury update, Owen Skinner is continuing to go from strength to strength both in his injury rehabilitation and also his confidence which was understandably knocked by his awful injury. The movement in his toes is slowly returning and his scar is healing. Owen is a credit to himself the way he has dealt with his injury and we are proud of how hard he is working on his long rehabilitation process and his education. Finley Long was diagnosed with bone bruising and cartilage tear in his knee so had a stop start Christmas term, now he's working his way to fitness and has taken another setback fracturing his wrist in a friendly game last week. We're lucky to have Liam Foster, our full time Sports Therapist who oversees all recovery and rehabilitation programmes.

Our Ware FC in The Community Programme is continuing to grow with today being our first "Hertford and Ware Primary Schools Festival", we had 14 primary schools, approximately 140 players coming to Wodson Park for a football festival organised by the second year scholars as part of their "Organising Sports Events" unit. A great day was had by all, made better by the sunshine being out all day! You make your own luck and the scholars deserved the weather to be kind after the hard work they put in.

We are currently providing PPA cover and Free of charge after school clubs, lunchtime clubs and/or breakfast clubs to 8 Primary schools in Ware and surrounding. This is something we are focussing a lot of effort in growing over the next 6 months.

The scholars are off on their breaks now whilst we continue to work hard, plan and continue to progress the academy on and off the pitch.

Look forward to Easter update where we'll be able to elaborate on Shanghai, The Hub, further education and further 1st team opportunities for some of the scholars.

Until then, Come On You Ware Boys!

Sam & Dan

Ware FC Coaching & Sport Education

For previous academy blogs see here for the first and here for the second.