Castle Community College’s football academy has pulled off an exciting coup, after linking with Gillingham Football Club’s apprenticeship programme.

The partnership has already seen four apprentices selected who completed the academy’s two-year course in July.

They will be taken on as part of the Gillingham Football Club Community Trust (GFCCT) and trained up to become teaching assistants or sports coaches with the possibility of exploring other career avenues in football and sport.

Paul Murray, who has been at the helm of the school’s academy since it started eight years ago, said: “It’s completely unique,” and according to him it sets the academy head and shoulders above the rest, being one of only three in Kent to join the club’s scheme.

He said it was one of just two academies in the county when it first launched. Other schools quickly followed suit and set up similar establishments, some paying extortionate sums to the premier clubs they were affiliated to.

“We have been looking at what we can offer the students. It’s an after care and it’s offering them a future” - Paul Murray, CCC Football Academy

This is a unique partnership because there are no financial payments to GFCCT and similarly the club does not pay the school. But the academy is provided with two special football kits to be worn at all matches and all pupils will be in with a chance of getting regular tickets to games.

There is the possibility that players will visit the school too.

The rationale behind the apprentice scheme is to find more male teaching staff for primary schools, thus increasing sport participation and combating obesity.

The apprentices will work as teaching assistants and sports coaches – a cost effective arrangement saving schools between 50 and 60% of a regular teaching assistant’s salary. The aim is to create a genuine pathway to employment in teaching.

Head of PE Jo Knee said: “It’s an opportunity for Castle Community College’s pupils to further their career if they haven’t got the points to go to university.”

The apprenticeship, and the experience they glean from their work experience, will count as UCAS points.

Mr Murray added: “It’s been something that’s been missing from lots of football academies.

“We have been looking at what we can offer the students. It’s an after care and it’s offering them a future.”

The scheme is the only one of its kind and the community trust is going through the motions to ensure its the only club that can deliver it.

And as part of GFC’s obligations under the FA’s Football in the Community regulations, the wider community will benefit from the club’s involvement at Deal.

It will hold regular soccer schools and a development centre for boys between the ages of seven and 14 at Castle’s Astro Turf.

Elias Achilleos, who runs Schools Company, the firm that manages Castle, said: “I think this is great for our students.

“Not just for those who are interested in football but for all the students but because of the rewards system.

“It raises the profile of our sixth form and its good for students who want to go into a sixth form and who want to go into football or coaching as well.”

If you are interested in joining the academy and the apprenticeship scheme, telephone 01304 373363.