Simon Wormull eyes up talent for Three Bridges Academy

Former Tottenham and Brentford professional Simon Wormull wants to teach youngsters aged 16-19 the beautiful game to those who want to have a career in sport.

The former Crawley Town player-manager said: “Our academy enables you to obtain an NVQ Level 3 qualification and teaches you to become a Level 2 coach.

“At the end of two years our students can: 1) Apply for a scholarship to play football in the USA, 2) Go to university, 3) Get a job in coaching.”

As well as getting a clarification, students at the academy have the opportunity of playing for Three Bridges in the Conference Youth Alliance League South East London Division.

This high standard league includes teams from Fulham, Dulwich Hamlet, Crystal Palace, Charlton and Maidstone United.

The club also runs teams in the Ryman U18s and U21s Leagues and the leading players could find their way into the Three Bridges first team which plays in the semi-professional Ryman League South.

Simon Wormull said: “I took over in January this year which was the first year Three Bridges had run its academy.

“We are now recruiting for the second year and are trying to recruit players to play first team football which puts them in the shop window if they are good enough to move on to a higher level.

“The education side of it gives the boys a chance to get a qualification out of it.

“We take boys from Year 11 (just taken GCSEs).

“You get 10-12 hours of schooling a week which is based at the club. We have tutors who come in to deliver NVQ Level 3 qualifications. We put them through Level 1 and 2 coaching badges.

“We have football for 10-12 hours per week during the week and play in a league which is a good standard at Elite Development level with good quality teams such as Crystal Palace, Fulham, Charlton, Cambridge and Maidstone which is a good level of football.

“The NVQ is in sport which gains them access to taking any kind of degree at university which has a sports element to it.

“We are also teaching life schools such as time-keeping, presenting their work properly and their fitness.

“They will do a two or three-year course and are taking boys on from Crawley and further a field in Sussex.”

Anyone wanting to join up should contact them from their website.