DORCHESTER Town Football Club are excited to confirm that their academy side has been accepted into the National League Under-19 Alliance League for the 2019/20 season.

The Magpies’ academy are set to compete in a 12-team strong division against some of the top non-League teams across the south of England, which include current champions Eastleigh, Maidenhead United and Weston-super-Mare.

As well as the opportunity to play against teams in the National League Under-19 Alliance League, the academy side are also set to enter the highly competitive FA Youth Cup.

Academy manager Mark Robinson said: “Every student that comes to study and play at Dorchester Town FC Academy has the opportunity to move through the club’s pathway to feature for the first team.

“To be accepted to compete at such a high standard as the National League Youth Alliance, which is the highest level to showcase your talent as a youth player outside of the Football League, means our players are given the best chances to develop to a standard to represent Dorchester Town first team.

“By competing in this league we also have a direct education pathway to allow our students to progress from the level three in Sports Studies on offer here at the Dorchester Town FC Academy into a degree at the University Campus of Football Business (UCFB) at Wembley Stadium or the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.

“I strongly believe we now have on offer here the greatest further education and sports studies in Dorset. The opportunities and future on offer for any student passing through our Academy is second to none. It really is an exciting time to be at Dorchester Town FC.”

Our next Academy open training session will take place on this coming Monday afternoon (24 June) from 1:00pm to 2:30pm at The Clayson Stadium, so if you’re interested in attending the open training session to come and have a look around, meet the coaches and find out more information about the programme, please visit the SCL website and register for the session here: www.wearescl.co.uk/dorchester-town.

Starting in September this year, we’ve partnered with SCL Education Group to deliver a full-time education and football development programme like no other in the local area. The two-year programme provides 16 to 18-year-olds from across Dorset with a unique opportunity to gain nationally recognised qualifications in sport, whilst enjoying an excellent full-time football training programme delivered by experienced coaches.

Students will have access to and be able to learn at the fantastic facilities at the home of The Magpies, which includes our new state of the art 3G pitch that was installed last summer, whilst being based at the stadium will create close links with the first team – offering a clear pathway for local players from Dorchester and the surrounding area, to the Academy and through to the senior squad.

For more information about the programme please contact Mark Robinson by email office@dorchestertownfc.co.uk or call 01305 267623, or contact SCL by email on register@wearescl.co.uk or call 0345 644 5747.