Wick High To Be Football Association Development Centre

4th November 2012

North Region's 2020 Development Centres.

The Scottish FA has established a network of 2020 Development Centres across the country to provide players in primary five, six and seven the opportunity to begin their journey through the association's performance pathway.

In the North Region, Wick High School, Highland Football Academy, Milburn Academy and Milnes High School will host the centres.

The Scottish FA's strategic plan, Scotland United: A 2020 Vision, includes a performance strategy to nurture the country's best players and establish a clear pathway into the Scotland National Teams. The 2020 Development Centres are a crucial first step on this pathway.

27 centres are now up and running covering an area which ranges from Wick to Dumfries.

Ritchie Wilson, community development manager for the Scottish FA, said: "The Scottish FA aims to inspire, enthuse, motivate and guide tomorrow's players to play with sportsmanship, invention, passion and creativity. The 2020 Centres have been established to do just that and to compliment existing football activity that the young players are currently involved in.

"The 2020 Development Centre programme involves weekly two-hour training sessions over a 36 week period with a responsibility on the attendees to commit to regular practice. The coaches delivering the programme will ensure they provide relevant and challenging content each week.

"It is important we have a structure in place which allows players to continually develop", explained Ritchie

"Our 2020 Centres provide the ideal environment for young players to begin their journey on the pathway and it will be exciting to see the results in the future."

The 2020 Centres are in: Wick High School, Highland Football Academy, Millburn Academy, Milnes High School, Station Park, Dundee International Sports Centre, McDiardmid Park, Beith High School, Dalgety Bay Sports Centre, Forthbank Stadium, Lornshill Academy, Littlekerse, Livingston FC, Peffermill, Pinkie St Peter's Primary, Ravenscraig, Toryglen, Eastwood High School, St Mirren FC Training Ground, Govan High School, Bearsden Academy, Netherdale 3G, Grange Academy, Greenwood Academy, Pro Soccer and Dumfries High School.