TWO of Wiltshire’s senior football clubs have come together to commit their support to helping develop young players within the county.

Chippenham Town, whose first team play in the Southern League, and Royal Wootton Bassett Town, of the Hellenic League, have joined forces with Wiltshire College to create a new football academy.

The academy will launch ahead of the 2016-17 season and is ready to start recruiting its first batch of players.

Adopting the motto "Football for the present, Education for the future”, the academy will provide those involved with high-quality football coaching, along with the opportunity to gain a valuable BTEC Level 2 or 3 qualification in Sport (Development, Coaching and Fitness).

Both clubs have worked closely with Wiltshire College, the largest educational provider in the county, to provide sport course provision at Level 2 & 3 for 16 to 18-year-old boys and an excellent football environment, leading to professional, non-league and overseas opportunities for those suitable, as well as higher educational provision for those more suited to academics.

Chippenham Town chairman Neil Blackmore said: “This is a chance for our club to move forward with Wiltshire College and their fantastic facilities at Stanley Park.”

Andy Walduck, chairman of Royal Wootton Bassett Town, added: “As a community club, we see this as the next step in our provision for our young player pathway and any who wish to join the scheme.”

An information evening outlining the plans for the academy will be held this Thursday at Royal Wootton Bassett Town’s new Gerrard Buxton Sports Ground at 6.30pm, with a practical training session then taking place at 8pm.

Wiltshire College head of football Mike Byrne said: “These are great opportunities for local young players to train and play like professionals and learn in the process.

“The community links are crucial for the college and a guarantee of quality and commitment from the largest educational provider in the county will guarantee piece of mind to players and parents alike.”