Southport Football Club is proud to announce the launch of a brand-new full-time Scholar Programme, marking a significant step forward in the club’s long-term vision for player development.
Designed to mirror the structure and standards of a Category 3/2 academy environment, the new programme will be based at the club and operate as a direct extension of the first-team set-up.
The scholar group will benefit from a professional, competitive, full-time football environment, providing a clear pathway from academy football into senior football.
This initiative is fully supported by the club owners David Cunningham and Kieran Malone, who see the scholar programme as a vital step towards developing more homegrown talent capable of representing Southport FC at first-team level.
The programme will be overseen by Academy Manager Harry with input and involvement from First Team Manager Neil Danns, ensuring close alignment between the academy and senior football environments. Their combined leadership will allow young players to experience the standards, intensity, and expectations required to compete for a place in the first team and potentially beyond. The scholars will be playing in the U19 National League which is one of, if not the most competitive leagues in the country that we; as a club, can enter.
Recruitment from the local area has already shown success, with players such as Renato Gomes, Matthew Hawkins & Finn Turner. More recently, Tom Cowan has progressed through this season’s new Full-Time Academy structure. In the future, with this new programme it will set a clear and structured pathway to play at the highest level.
This new Scholar Programme underlines Southport FC’s commitment to investing in youth development, creating opportunity, and building a sustainable future rooted in local talent.
Academy Manager Harry Cannon-Noren said:
“This is a huge announcement for the club and is one that should excite the local area. The club is set up for success behind the scenes with David and Kieran being a huge part of that. Any successful club is one with a successful academy that offers a professional, competitive environment that ultimately provides the quality that can compete for a shirt in Neil’s first team and potentially beyond into professional football. With the backing of the club being able to offer scholarships it will allow us to attract the best talent in the surrounding area for the scholarship program but also within our youth development phase which is currently undergoing rapid expansion. This is a really exciting time for myself, academy staff, the players in the local area and the club but more importantly the fans as there is nothing like getting behind one of our own out there on the pitch!”
So if you have just been released from an academy after not receiving a scholarship or if you are playing grassroots but feel as though you can make the step up please and apply now to potentially be offered one our inaugural scholarships at Southport Football Club.
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