University launch their first ever non league club

A university have chosen to launch their first ever non league club, and have already got a league placement for the 2020/21 season.

Hartpury University FC will play their football in the Hellenic League Division Two North, with their team consisting players aged 16 upwards from what has been described as a highly successful junior and senior football academies at the college and uni.

The aim is to provide their students with further opportunities to become professional footballers, something one former student, Majeed Waris, went on to do.

Paul Tassell, Football Academy Manager at Hartpury, said, as reported by GloucestershireLive: “The academy continues to grow after the consistent success at college and university level and we have more than 40 players placed in non-League clubs to facilitate their development.

“Our successful relationships with a number of clubs have helped more than 35 of our players follow their dreams by playing professional football.

“The time is now right to give more opportunities to our growing base of young players and increase their development further.

“We hope to see more successes of our players in the future from this new innovative and forward-thinking project.

“We have an amazing team of staff who will drive this forward and continue our success.”

Congratulations to all our @Hartpury graduates who have worked hard in the classroom and on the pitch. Good luck in the next chapter of your journey and thank you for letting us be a part of it. #DNA #ProudToBelong pic.twitter.com/FF4li8pFH6

— Hartpury Football (@hartpuryfootbal) July 2, 2020

Dr Martin Longworth, UEFA A Licence coach who has worked in semi-professional football at various clubs and is a UEFA B Licence tutor with the Football Association of Wales (FAW), has been named as their head coach.

Alongside his role as Senior Lecturer in Sports Coaching and Physical Education at the university, Martin has helped develop the MSc Applied Performance Analysis in Sport programme.

Dr Longworth, who also manages the MSc Sports Coaching programme, said: “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to be part of this new chapter of Hartpury football.

“We have a fantastic reputation for nurturing talent in college and university football, and this is now an opportunity for us to make our mark on the domestic game.

“The launch of Hartpury University FC will also have immense benefits for students enrolled on our various academic programmes, as it will provide them with opportunities to work closely with the squad, gain valuable industry experience and generate research outputs.

“It is an exciting prospect for me personally and I can’t wait to get started.”

Huge football news! We’re extremely excited to have launched Hartpury University FC – our first-ever non-League club – to play in the @HellenicLeague ⚽️ #HartpuryFamily

? Read more https://t.co/CPemKy58jX@hartpuryfootbal @HartpurySport @HartpurySU @HartpuryAlumni pic.twitter.com/2kj6bB7UM2

— Hartpury University and Hartpury College (@Hartpury) July 27, 2020

Students at Hartpury have been the English Schools Football Association (FA) U18 national champions for four of the past six years.

They’ve won the English Colleges FA Premier League nine times, the English Colleges National Championship five times, the BUCS Premier League 10 times and been crowned BUCS national champions five times.

Ghana internationals Abdul Majeed Waris was Hartpury’s first graduate to play in a World Cup, and fellow David Accam, who was the first graduate to play in the UEFA Champions League.

Max Harris became the 36th professional footballer to come from Hartpury’s Football Academy when he signed for Oxford United last summer.

Their previous Men’s Senior 1’s head coach Matt Taylor guided Exeter City to the League Two playoff final at Wembley this year. He opened a new floodlit state-of-the-art third generation (3G) artificial grass football pitch (AGP) at Hartpury.

The new pitch was made possible thanks to investment from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation, as well as a significant contribution from Hartpury.

After netting a £340,162 grant from the Football Foundation, work began on the site in June 2019.

The new facility replaces an old 3G pitch that was 16 years old and had reached the end of its operational life.

Current Hartpury student Ryan Beckinsale and former Hartpury student James Harding who have both signed for National League South side Hungerford Town in May 2020.

Experienced EFL player Jake Gosling, Notts County’s Scott Wilson and ex Hereford player Mustapha Bundu are just some of the other footballers to been at Hartpury.

Chris Knowles, Senior Football Manager and Hartpury University FC coach, said: “The launch of Hartpury University FC is an exciting opportunity to develop our dual career offering to our students and further enhance the journey of every student who comes through the Hartpury football programme.”

Last season, Hartpury’s new league consisted of Southam United, Adderbury Park, Headington Amateurs, Woodstock Town, Heyford Athletic, Easington Sports Reserves, Buckingham Athletic Development, Banbury United Development, Chinnor, Moreton Rangers Development, Long Crendon Development, Old Bradwell United Development and Risborough Rangers Reserves.

Hartpury University, which got it’s current status in 2018, and Hartpury College, which was established back in 1947, is based five miles north east of Gloucester, next to the A417.

Hartpury has an area of about 3,500 acres, about 270 homes and a population of about 700 people, increasing dramatically to 1,642 at the 2011 census.

Meanwhile, the UHLSPORT Hellenic League has announced the following measure to assist its member clubs during these trying times.

“The League confirms that it will not be asking for any monies from all of our member clubs until 28 days after the date of the first game,” they said in a statement issued recently.

“This hopefully will allow clubs to gather some much-needed finance.

“Furthermore the amount to be paid to the League will then be split over three payments. The initial one as indicated, the second by the end of November and the third by the end of January.”

The statement from the League went on to say: “The FA have confirmed that no Step 5 and 6 matches are to take place until paying spectators are allowed at games. This ensures that clubs will have an income.”

Full details of the financial package have been circulated to all Hellenic League clubs.