Paignton Player Pathway

...that will provide a player pathway for footballers between 6-18 years old to Argyle’s Academy. 

Paignton's Jane English said:"It is a real pleasure to be working alongside Plymouth Argyle, giving the young people of Torbay the opportunity to pursue their dreams of a professional football career whilst at the same time gain an academic education that gives them a range of career opportunities.”

Following the closure of the Gulls Academy, in September 2015 Plymouth Argyle set up a new Centre of Excellence at Paignton Academy for U6-U14 age groups.  This has proven to be a success already, with one player signing for the Argyle Academy in the first three months. Academy players were invited to a football festival at Ivybridge Community College, after which players and parents were given the opportunity to watch the Argyle first team in action.

Kevin Hodges,  Argyle Academy Manager, said: “We are excited to create this new partnership with Paignton Community and Sports Academy. PCSA have the best sporting facilities in the Torbay area, we will make use of both the indoor hub with four futsal courts and the outdoor 3G astro-turf. This pathway will give players the opportunity to continue their education and football at the same time”.

Now plans have been put in place to expand the provision with Paignton Community Sports Academy and create a new football education programme linking to Argyle’s Academy. This will provide an opportunity for U16-U18 to continue their football alongside their education. 

We are looking for young players of school-leaving age with a passion to play football at a high level to undertake academic study, whilst at the same time honing their footballing talents with Plymouth Argyle.

The course will enable 16-18 years olds to participate in a number of academic studies alongside a football education programme run by Plymouth Argyle. The programme is designed to give young people excellent academic qualifications that can take them into UK universities, overseas universities and employment.

In addition to this, the programme provides talented and enthusiastic youngsters with the opportunity to train and play on a regular basis in tandem with their academic studies. 

Students from similar programmes have progressed into the professional game, climbed the football pyramid and also gone overseas, whilst others have improved their football ability and continue to play at a high standard in local football.

The programme does not prevent players from training or playing for their local teams. In fact, this is encouraged and Argyle would like players to stay within local football. The programme would not affect games or training schedules, as the academic study and Football programme runs during term-time. 

As well as formal taught lessons and football coaching, there will be an opportunity for players to train and play with and against the Argyle U18s, as well as for the South West Peninsula side if recommended by the Plymouth staff.  For players who are currently studying in Year 11 and 12, the Open Evening will give them an insight into the course and opportunity to see course the programme and content.

The open evening will take place at Paignton Community and Sports Academy, at its Borough Road site, from 6.30pm.

If you would like to attend this open evening please contact Trudy Humphries on 01803 403003.