Promising young footballers are being invited to apply for places on a new training scheme set to be introduced by Boreham Wood FC in September.

Under the Government-funded Programme of Academic and Sporting Excellence (PASE), teenage boys study for qualifications in sports science whilst receiving football coaching.

Club chairman Danny Hunter and PASE national manager Simon Stewart, are confident that Borehamwood's Hertswood School and West Herts College will agree to deliver the scheme, after recent discussions.

Each site would have places for 18 to 24 school-leavers, aged 16 to 19, who will receive 12 hours' academic teaching and 12 hours' football coaching, with UEFA coaches, each week. They will also play in the national PASE League on Wednesday afternoons.

The Broughinge Road club will hold trials at 5pm on Monday, May 12, to fill the 36 to 48 places.

Mr Hunter said: "We are looking for would-be footballers with an interest in the sports science area"

"Better players would be fast-tracked through to our reserves and first team," he added.

The head coach would be Steve Cordurey, who ran a PASE scheme at Yeading and is first team manager at Aylesbury. But, Mr Hunter stressed the "education must come first" and candidates had to be interested in studying for a diploma as well as playing football.

He said the PASE scheme had a good success-rate, with around seven per cent of students offered contracts with semi-professional and professional clubs.

PASE, running in Britain since 1996, aims to improve youth sport and coaching nationwide. Mr Stewart, of Bedford College which promotes the scheme, said the details should be finalised with Hertswood and West Herts within six weeks.

To attend the trials, candidates must be under 19 on August 31 and can be from all over the area, including Potters Bar and Barnet. For more information call Lisa at the club on 020 8953 5097. There will also be a presentation at 7.30pm.

May 7, 2003 16:00