Stags’ scholars, aged 16 to 18, and the club’s under-21 players, will be based at the RH Academy – the state-of-the-art training facility in Pleasley, Mansfield – and the relocation will enable a new affiliation with the area’s largest further education (FE) provider.
This pioneering new partnership will see the Stags’ under-21 and under-18 footballers access a wide range of high-quality courses at both further and higher education level through the college.
It will also enable talented students, both male and female, on full-time college courses to access professional football coaching through Mansfield Town, who will also support students to play in local and national competitive college leagues.
Mansfield Town’s academy director Mark Hawkins said: “West Notts College provides a wide range of A-level subjects as well as vocational and professional qualifications from entry-level to full degrees. This will enable our footballers to choose the educational pathway best suited to their needs.
“Our highly-acclaimed academy prides itself on the highest standards of coaching and football, and places equal emphasis on our players’ educational development and qualifications.
“Our standards and ethos have resulted in a number of players progressing on to a range of degree courses in both the UK and USA and into various roles within football.”
On the new partnership between Mansfield Town and West Nottinghamshire College, Mr Hawkins added: “West Notts is a dynamic college with a brilliant reputation. It shares Mansfield Town’s values by embracing and encouraging all those who are driven to better themselves to achieve their goals and stretch the boundaries of their potential.
“It makes great sense to form a new partnership between two of the biggest organisations in Mansfield and I believe our young players and college students will greatly benefit from this new relationship.”
College principal and chief executive Andrew Cropley said: “I’m thrilled that we are able to launch this exciting partnership with the Stags.
“Our values and aspects of our vision are very much aligned with Mansfield Town’s, particularly the ambition to make the local area an ever-better place to live and work.
“It will be great for our students to study and train alongside elite athletes and to understand the commitment and standards necessary to reach the top in their chosen profession.
“To be able to work with an outstanding local organisation with a clear, positive vision for the future is terrific and I’m particularly pleased that we are both determined to extend the opportunity to play in a team coached by a Mansfield Town professional to both male and female college students. I can’t wait for this to kick off!”
Potential students can find out more by attending the college’s open day on Saturday 12 October from 10am-1pm at the Derby Road campus. This will be attended by representatives from Mansfield Town FC, along with college tutors.
Caption:
L-R: Mark Hawkins (Stags’ academy director), Ben Bradley (Mansfield MP), Carolyn Radford (Stags’ CEO), Andrew Cropley (West Nottinghamshire College principal and CEO), John Radford (Stags’ chairman), and Chris Ball (Stags’ academy head of education) launch the partnership at Stags’ One Call Stadium.