The official charity of Wolverhampton Wanderers has teamed up with a Shropshire college to relaunch a football and education programme.
From September, Telford College students will be able to take a two-year BTec in sport that includes fixtures, visits to the club’s Molineux Stadium and Compton Park training ground.
Director of vocational studies Andy Turner said the scheme would develop learners’ abilities as both players and coaches.
Students who have previously completed the course have gone on degree courses or work in the sports sector.
Brad Moore, post-16 education and skills manager at the Wolves Foundation charity said the programme had been delivered successfully at the college in the years leading up to the pandemic.
He said it would “once again offer students the opportunity to obtain a qualification which can lead to a career in sport”.
Opportunities included fixtures against other club community organisations from the EFL (English Football League) and Premier League, such as Liverpool, Manchester City, and Aston Villa, he said.
The college said its students would enjoy access to some of the best facilities in the area, including a double-sized sports hall, indoor and outdoor 3G pitches, a professional studio and well-stocked gym.
“The football education programme will provide young people with an amazing opportunity to fulfil their academic potential, whilst also developing their ability and understanding in football,” Mr Turner said.
An open evening is being held on 12 March.
The development at the college comes weeks after it was announced Telford would lose its Wolverhampton University campus as part of plans to save £6m.
Tanya Gupta
BBC News, West Midlands
BBC Shropshire
