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SCL & Pick Up Academy Extend Partnership

SCL Education & Training has announced an extension of their partnership with Pick Up Academy, a football education programme which has seen graduates sign for Premier League clubs as well as progressing to university, apprenticeships and employment.

 

 

Run by UEFA and FA qualified coaches, the study programme gives aspiring 16-18-year-old footballers the chance to gain a BTEC Level 3 in Sport in line with their passion for the game.

 

With SCL’s education provision coupled with a slick football programme, the two-year course has yielded a number of success stories including Max Kilman, who last year made the move to Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

 

Remarkably, Kilman, now 21, nearly quit football altogether while playing on loan at seventh-tier side Marlow during the 2016/17 season. Following a string of impressive displays for National League outfit Maidenhead United, Kilman penned a deal with Wolves on deadline day last year.

 

Wolves manager Nuno Espírito Santo recently stated that Kilman had fully integrated with the first team, with the Portuguese supremo describing him as ‘a very good football player with quality.’   

 

It has been quite a whirlwind journey for the versatile footballer, who has also represented the England Futsal team on 25 occasions, including enthralling encounters with Germany. Other Englishman who have benefitted from playing the fast-paced and intense indoor sport include Jadon Sancho, now of Borussia Dortmund, and Watford midfielder Will Hughes.

 

Pick Up Academy has also seen a series of student’s trial with the likes of AFC Bournemouth and Watford within the last year, while other progression routes have included scholarships in America as well as a pathway into employment.

 

George Busumbru, Academy Director at Pick Up, who also manages non-league side Walton & Hersham, said: “I’ve really enjoyed working with the SCL staff throughout the programme and I’m pleased that we have extended our partnership with them.

 

“We have an excellent relationship with SCL, and the combination of their education provision combined with our football programme, really benefits the students at our academy.

 

“It’s important to mention that we encourage the students to progress their careers in a number of exit routes both on and off the field, and that is what makes these types of academies very unique.”

 

SCL have announced a number of new partnerships as well as the extension of some existing ones in recent weeks. The UK’s leading provider of education recently teamed up with Leeds United Football Club and extended their partnership with the West Ham United Foundation as the organisation looks to expand its business across the country.

 

Lawrence Blair, SCL Partnership Director said: “It’s great to see the real benefits of this programme as some students get the chance to make it as professional footballers and others off the field.

 

“The academy is clearly doing great things throughout the programme, with the number of success stories coming out of it and I’m looking forward to seeing how the partnership develops further in the near future.”  

 

To find out when the next open day is and for more information about Pick Up Academy, visit https://www.wearescl.co.uk/pick