MATCH REPORT | A PROMOTION PARTY AT TANNADICE
4th May 2024
Dundee United FC and Dundee City Council Education Department today announced a new progressive partnership which will see an elite group of young players from the Club's junior academy attend a local secondary school and combine their academic education with player development activities.
Up to twelve players, due to enter secondary education in August of this year, will become pupils at St John's High School, where each day the youngsters will receive early morning coaching and physical development training from academy coaching staff before going through a normal school timetable. A further football session will take place after the end of the school day and the Club will also combine these with homework and education related activities.
The partnership is designed to be in line with both current educational thinking in sporting, academic and personal development, plus the aims of the new Dundee United youth academy programme. It is also in line with the Education Department's Learning Together in Dundee programme and complements the aims of the Curriculum for Excellence.
For the football club, the project represents the latest step in an ongoing complete revamp of the club's youth development system and will help mould players who are capable of handling the pressures and demands of football at the very highest level. The initiative will enable the Club to spend more time with the players to improve their technical skills and physical development and, at the same time, ensure that their personal development is supported. The partnership between the Club and the Education Department will ensure that each individual is provided with the maximum support and opportunity to achieve success both academically and athletically.
For the Education Department, the project will assist in developing elite talent in sport with support from the Club in a number of areas, including access to academy coaching staff, club facilities and related benefits.
Dundee United Chairman Stephen Thompson said, "Youth development is more important than it's ever been, because at the highest level we cannot compete with fees and wages paid elsewhere. Therefore the identification and development of our own players is vital. Part of that strategy is to invest heavily in the academy to develop and create players, but we also need to ensure that these players are well grounded and capable of meeting the demands of being a player at a leading football club and of being a role model in the local community.
"This partnership, together with the very important support from parents, will help us achieve our aims and allow us to forge closer links with the City Council and the community as a whole."
Dundee City Council education convener Cllr Liz Fordyce said; "This is a great partnership between Dundee City Council with Dundee United and will assist these young people to gain important skills in both their education and football.
"It is crucial for their futures that they can progress with classroom work as well as developing as athletes in training.
"These pupils be supported in way that will encourage and motivate them to be the very best they can be in all aspects of their lives.
"I would like to thank Dundee United and St John's High School for working together to make this happen.
"We will all be watching closely to see how these pupils make the most of the many benefits and opportunities that this partnership offers."
Up to twelve players, due to enter secondary education in August of this year, will become pupils at St John's High School, where each day the youngsters will receive early morning coaching and physical development training from academy coaching staff before going through a normal school timetable. A further football session will take place after the end of the school day and the Club will also combine these with homework and education related activities.
The partnership is designed to be in line with both current educational thinking in sporting, academic and personal development, plus the aims of the new Dundee United youth academy programme. It is also in line with the Education Department's Learning Together in Dundee programme and complements the aims of the Curriculum for Excellence.
For the football club, the project represents the latest step in an ongoing complete revamp of the club's youth development system and will help mould players who are capable of handling the pressures and demands of football at the very highest level. The initiative will enable the Club to spend more time with the players to improve their technical skills and physical development and, at the same time, ensure that their personal development is supported. The partnership between the Club and the Education Department will ensure that each individual is provided with the maximum support and opportunity to achieve success both academically and athletically.
For the Education Department, the project will assist in developing elite talent in sport with support from the Club in a number of areas, including access to academy coaching staff, club facilities and related benefits.
Dundee United Chairman Stephen Thompson said, "Youth development is more important than it's ever been, because at the highest level we cannot compete with fees and wages paid elsewhere. Therefore the identification and development of our own players is vital. Part of that strategy is to invest heavily in the academy to develop and create players, but we also need to ensure that these players are well grounded and capable of meeting the demands of being a player at a leading football club and of being a role model in the local community.
"This partnership, together with the very important support from parents, will help us achieve our aims and allow us to forge closer links with the City Council and the community as a whole."
Dundee City Council education convener Cllr Liz Fordyce said; "This is a great partnership between Dundee City Council with Dundee United and will assist these young people to gain important skills in both their education and football.
"It is crucial for their futures that they can progress with classroom work as well as developing as athletes in training.
"These pupils be supported in way that will encourage and motivate them to be the very best they can be in all aspects of their lives.
"I would like to thank Dundee United and St John's High School for working together to make this happen.
"We will all be watching closely to see how these pupils make the most of the many benefits and opportunities that this partnership offers."
