Two youngsters have joined League One side Bolton Wanderers from the Steven Gerrard Academy based in Liverpool
Lucas Kirkpatrick and Tomi Adesina, who have signed for Bolton Wanderers having been part of the Steven Gerrard Academy
Lucas Kirkpatrick and Tomi Adesina, who have signed for Bolton Wanderers having been part of the Steven Gerrard Academy
(Image: Steven Gerrard Academy)
An initiative involving Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard is celebrating after two young footballers signed professional forms with Bolton Wanderers. Huyton-based full-back Tomi Adesina and midfielder Lucas Kirkpatrick of Childwall were both part of the Steven Gerrard Academy and will now spend at least the next 12 months on the books of the League One outfit.
They are the latest success stories from the Academy, which was founded in 2011 as the Liverpool FC Foundation College and is based at the Wyncote Sports Grounds in Mather Avenue in the city.
The Academy - which combines a top education provision with an elite football programme consisting of training, gym and games - has in recent years also established programmes in Kirkby, Chester, Chorley, Nottingham and Tenerife, and has almost 800 students on roll.
Their coaching staff has been bolstered with arrival of former Newcastle United and Tranmere Rovers full-back Ryan Taylor and ex-Cardiff City winger Craig Noone, who will share their vast experience with the next generation.
And the Academy will embrace a new era this year with the introduction of a degree course for students aged 18 and over aimed at learning key areas of the football industry.
The latest young hopefuls will hope to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Paul Mullin, Elliot Nevitt, Sammy Adeniran, David Adimbola and Carra Jones of Wrexham Women in progressing to the top level in the game.
And Gerrard said: “Everyone at Steven Gerrard Academy is immensely proud of Lucas and Tomi’s progress and wish them every success at Bolton Wanderers.
"Our Academy is committed to providing an elite environment for youngsters like Lucas and Tomi and they have worked really hard to make the step into a pro club. Last season's experiences in high profile games against Brentford, Bolton and playing in the Dallas Cup really pushed them.
"I’m delighted for them. Many more of our students are progressing to universities in England and the USA and we are equally proud of them.
"I am especially excited about the launch of our Steven Gerrard Academy degree, providing pathways into the many roles within the game for youngsters who may not have traditionally gone to university.”
Among others who have previously graduated into roles away from playing are Jordan Haskell of coaching website Ultimate Player HQ, Chloe Bloxham from fan channel Redmen TV and Tom Stegin, who is now coaching at William Penn University in the United States.
And the hope is the introduction of the BSc (Hons) Football Industry degree course can open up further opportunities for youngsters in every sphere of the game.
Director of operations Danny Harrison said: "Our degree is a game-changer because young people are able to gain degrees while remaining at our Academy.
"Some of them are first in the family to make it to university. For those pursuing a career in football it's ideal whether it be in playing, coaching, sport science and sporting directors. It’s really exciting.
"The degree can also be studied online which allows students to harness our first-class network gaining work experience as performance analyst, talent ID, strength and conditioning, and coaching during their course.
"Students based at a traditional university are limited in what they can do, having to attend lectures in person but our delivery model changes all that.
"We aim to have Lucas and Tomi studying the degree in a couple of years as they always have an education as back up when they finish their playing career."
There are a limited number of places remaining on the three-year BSc (Hons) Football Industry degree course, and for 16 to 18-year-olds there are spaces still left to study the BTEC Level 3 in Sport, Coaching and Development Pathway and the BTEC Level 3 in Sport Media.
Anyone who requires more information should email info@stevengerrardacademy.com, visit the stevengerrard.academy Instagram page or go to the website www.stevengerrardacademy.com.