Walsall Students Score West Midlands Glory!

Three talented Walsall College Sport students have been selected to represent the West Midlands, securing places on the West Midlands Colleges Football Team.

Reece Cotterill, Bradley Wooldridge and Calum Cooper from Walsall College have been selected to represent the West Midlands Region after impressing football scouts at the regional trials held on 5th October at the Soccer centre in Wednesbury.

Almost eighty players attended the trials, from which only sixteen were selected. The students will now take part in matches against all other regions across England. They will also go on to the next stage of trials in November, in order to compete for a place in the English Colleges Football Team.

The successful students all play football as part of the College’s Football Development Centre, a great opportunity for talented young footballers who want to continue with their education while working towards footballing success. The Centre specialises in harnessing the talent of both male and female players who display above average ability. Players selected to join the centre work in an environment that aids progression and helps them achieve the highest possible level of performance.

Walsall College has close links with Walsall Football Club and local semi-professional clubs. Students who display outstanding levels of ability and commitment are also recommended to these clubs for further progression opportunities.

Mark Howard, Football Academy Co-ordinator for Walsall College said: “Walsall College has got the biggest representation of all the colleges in the squad, and we are very proud of our students for this outstanding achievement. Our students gain high quality training in Walsall College’s Football Development Centre and their professional skills are really paying off. The next stage of the trials is to be held on Wednesday 2nd November and we wish them all the best”.

Bradley Wooldridge said: “I’m really excited to have been selected for the West Midlands Colleges Football Team. I didn’t know what to expect but it was great playing against people I’d never played against before”.

Reece Cotterill commented: “The Football Development Centre at Walsall College is a really good set up, with different levels of players. The coaching staff are fantastic and have got the knowledge and drive to push us further”.

Calum Cooper added: “I’m now training really hard as I want to impress in the English trials in November. It would be amazing to get selected for the English Colleges team; I would love to make a career out of my football skills and become a professional footballer in the future”.