A new era will dawn at Oxford City Football Club this week when the first crop of Velocity Football students embark on a career in sport by starting their full-time educational programmes.
Dozens of students from across Oxfordshire and further afield will begin Velocity Football’s BTEC, HND, and HNC programmes on Monday, September 7, after experiencing a taste of what the programmes will offer during an induction week at the start of the month and a pre-season camp through August.
Velocity Football is a new and improved full-time football and education programme open to male and female students aged between 16 to 18 and 19 to 23. The courses have been designed to provide an unrivalled progression pathway for football, further education, and career opportunities via a supportive and progressive post GCSE environment. The head coach for the male programme is Mickey Lewis and Lauren Hayes for the female programme.
For Velocity Football director Justin Merritt, the opportunity for students to train, play, learn, and achieve under one academic umbrella underpins the programme’s core aim to develop a first-class sport and education provision in Oxfordshire.
Justin said: “This is an exciting landmark week for football education in Oxfordshire and we’re proud to welcome our first in-take of full-time Velocity Football students. There is a great vibe at Oxford City FC as the students and coaches look forward to the new course and progressing together.
“Velocity Football will provide our students to education and wider career development opportunities that are unrivalled in the county. Our coaching team are an experience, progressive group of UEFA A and B licence coaches with real-life experience in the professional game that want to lead football education by example on an international scale.
“It is the culmination of years of delivering education programmes and Velocity is the ideal course for teenagers who wish to pursue a career in sport. Not only will they learn in a supportive environment, they will be given practical real-life work experience opportunities within the football club and our partners.”
Lauren Haynes shared Justin’s excitement at the start of the academic year.
She said: “Being based at Oxford City FC, we have the opportunity to encourage the very best from of each student both on and off the field through use of the club’s two 3G pitches, mini-gym, classrooms, and hard courts, alongside our excellent coaching teams.
“The club’s analysis hub and pop-up healthy canteen will be used to develop performance levels on the pitch too, and students will leave Velocity having gained real-life work experience through our built-in programme that offers roles in football business, strength and conditioning, coaching, analysis and more.
“All of the above components are what convinced me to join Velocity Football, and I’m excited to be part of the team Justin has created to teach the next generation of professionals in the football and wider sports industry.”
Velocity Football has been created in conjunction with partners Ignite Sport UK and Oxford City who have been delivering education programmes for almost 20 years.
Places remain available on Velocity Football’s male and female programmes for the current academic year. Visit www.velocityfootball.co.uk for more information and to guarantee your space on Oxfordshire’s only full-time post-GCSE football programme.
