A new UK-based PSG Academy has welcomed more than 50 students to Shropshire for the first time – and it includes budding young footballers from across the world.
Student athletes from Germany, Spain, Holland, Lithuania, Italy, Poland, Mexico and other countries have joined the new academy, which merges the professional sporting philosophy of French footballing giants Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) Football Club with Ellesmere College’s outstanding educational and extracurricular environment.
The squads include almost 50% international students from mainland Europe and range from year seven to 13.
They will now kick off their season with a programme of friendly and competitive fixtures against other schools and academies and will have regular visits from PSG coaching staff in the hope that one or two players may be selected for the next PSG World Cup that takes place next summer.
Alex Harrap, PSG Academy UK Managing Director, said: “It was a pleasure to be back at Ellesmere College yesterday to meet the players, present their new shirts and speak to them about what it means to represent Paris Saint-Germain Academy UK.
“For me, this partnership is about much more than football. It’s about creating an environment where young people can develop as players, grow as individuals and benefit from the combination of high-quality education and the PSG Academy philosophy.
“A huge amount of work has gone on behind the scenes and it was fantastic to see the excitement from the players as they received their shirts for the first time.
“This is only the beginning. I’m incredibly excited to see how the programme develops over the season and what we can build together in the years ahead.”
At the official launch this month (WED 9 SEPT) Alex spoke to the squads passionately about what it means to be part of the PSG family. He spoke about the philosophy of the club, the ambition and the values that each player should follow as well as about the support on offer to the players, from nutrition, coaching, to work experience support and business programmes.
During the academic year the Student athletes will also experience a tour to the PSG training base in Paris, to walk in the footsteps of their heroes and a number of other exciting events planned to coincide with both the Men’s and Women’s Teams in the Champions League.
There will also be PSG themed events and sessions across the year for the benefit of the wider county and community.
Stephen Mullock, Deputy Head External Relations at Ellesmere College, said: “I am excited to see all the hard work behind the scenes across the last 12 months come to fruition and see such smiling faces from these young people as they embark on this exciting journey.
“This new Academy has certainly had global appeal and I am not surprised at all, as it offers a unique development pathway for aspiring footballers who want to experience elite-level football training at one of the UK’s leading independent schools. This is a hugely positive step for our sporting and educational community.
“From the outset of this partnership, it was clear that both organisations share a deep commitment to developing young people of character and place equal value on high performance, personal development, and academic achievement – myself and everyone here at Ellesmere College are thrilled to see the start of this journey where pupils can challenge themselves, grow with confidence, and pursue their goals within a truly supportive framework.”
The student athletes will now begin daily structured training sessions integrated into their academic timetables, coaching by experienced professionals trained in the PSG methodology and support in physical development, technical progression, tactical awareness and competitive match experiences.
The programme will reinforce strong educational outcomes, ensuring students balance sport with academic achievement, promoting excellence both in the classroom and on the football field.
Harvey Lewis, PSG Head Coach at Ellesmere College, added: “This like up has had a very strong start and I can only see it gaining strength and momentum as the academic year progresses.
“We aim to see a huge drive for girls’ football teams and we are excited about what the future will bring for young football players who come to the PSG Academy at Ellesmere.”
PSG now has more than 180 academy centres across more than 22 countries with over 3000 coaches training more than 38,000 children.
For more information visit the website www.ellesmere.com and search PSG to discover the range of pathways available.
