A LOCAL Centre of Excellence is offering trials to young players who may have thought their chance of professional football contracts had gone.

The Wilmslow-based PFC Academy is offering all young players top-level coaching on Mondays and Fridays, with a view to recommending them to professional football clubs.

Director Lee Waddington said: "In the modern game the search for the next Rooney or Ronaldo starts with getting boys into professional clubs at five years of age.

"I have nothing against this as clubs abroad have done this successfully for many years. However, it does have a negative effect on boys aged between 13 and 16 as many clubs have stopped looking at these age groups.

"Many of my 13 to 16-year-old PFC Academy boys have been signed by clubs in the past 18 months and many pro clubs are missing out on many quality boys who are late developers.

"So many clubs are missing a trick. Many late developers at our academy are boys who were at pro clubs when they were eight, nine or 10 but were released due to being physically small.

"They then have come to me where we have nurtured them along socially, psychologically and technically, prior to them hitting their growth spurt of between 13 and 16 where they then have gone from strength to strength and got a contract with a pro club.

"I sincerely believe that there are boys out there who can be good enough with the correct type and level of coaching over a sustained period of time but for whatever reason have never been given the chance."

The academy trains at Wilmslow High School every Monday and Friday between 5pm and 7pm.

Lee, the head of player development for newly-promoted Burnley Football Club, has sent 13 academy players to the Clarets in recent times, 12 of whom were taken on.

Local trials are being held over the next few weeks for U-12 to U-16 players.

To book or for further information please call Lee on 01625 415 151 / 07967 392 484 or email lee@premierfc.com.

Trial dates:

  • Wilmslow High School, Holly Road, Wilmslow: Monday and Friday from 6pm to 7pm.
  • Parrs Wood High School, Wilmslow Road, East Didsbury: Tuesday 7pm to 8pm.
  • Birchwood High School, Brock Road, Birchwood, Warrington: 7pm to 8pm.
  • Timperley Sports Club, Stockport Road, Timperley, Friday 7pm to 8pm.