Morecambe Football Club are delighted to announce that our Academy side will be using Lancaster & Morecambe College as their main training base and match day venue.
MFC’s Apprentice Professional Scholars attend the College to complete their Level 3 BTEC qualification in Sporting Excellence & Performance, delivered by the LMC Sport department in partnership with League Football Education.
In addition, the Academy train and play on LMC’s industry standard 3G and grass pitches, develop their physical fitness and rehabilitation abilities in the Fitness Suite, and compete in weekend matchday programmes, seeing LMC host games against Premier League clubs such as Burnley & Manchester City
Deputy Programme Area Manager for Sport & MFC Head of Education, Gary Kelly, works alongside MFC Academy Manager & former player, Stewart Drummond, to coordinate the partnership. Both are former Professional Footballers with more than 20 years of playing experience and are both UEFA ‘A’ licence qualified football coaches.
LMC Princial Wes Johnson said: "Lancaster & Morecambe College is proud to be the official home of Morecambe Football Club’s fantastic Academy. Building on a longstanding relationship, this close connection supports the College’s drive to ensure a strong employer voice in shaping it’s curriculum.
"Our sport provision is no different, we work hard to ensure that our graduating students have the knowledge, skills and behaviours that our local sport industry needs.”
During their time at LMC, the Scholars engage with the College’s tutorial programme including activities such as Safe Drive Stay Alive, BRAVE, USA Sport Scholarship applications, UCAS support sessions and careers events.
These activities enable the Scholars to receive information, advice, and guidance to support their future career pathways.
Academy Manager, Stewart Drummond added: “With the increased use and occupancy MFC Academy has seen in recent years at LMC it made sense to relocate our main base to include office space, fitness suite as well as the continued use of the grass and artificial pitches.
"With the full-time scholars now training; taking lunch and undertaking their BTEC education here and the age nine-to-16 Academy programme all taking place here it further cements our longstanding relationship.
"Plans to enhance this are in the making to widen our club branding and the opportunities that we can offer the community as part of MFC and LMC. Exciting times ahead."
The relationship between both the club and the College also presents opportunities for LMC’s own Football Academy to progress academically and professionally.
With opportunities such as matches with the MFC Youth Team, observation of MFC Academy coaching methods and behaviours, and work placement on MFC’s Community Programme to gain experience in sports coaching, delivering sporting initiatives, engaging with the local community, and supporting their career progression pathways.
This, in addition to completing the National Citizen Service Autumn Programme and completing a two-week football camp in Alicante, helps our learners become well-rounded candidates for any future sporting careers they may pursue.
If you’re interested in joining the Scholars or LMC Academy, joint trial games are held on LMC’s 3G Pitch every spring. For more information, follow @LMCollege and @ShrimpsAcademy or phone the LMC Sports Department.