School of Excellence

Skills Academy School of Excellence - Last season's Under 16s squad

Skills Academy School of Excellence - Last season's Under 14s squad

The Skills Academy has been running it’s School of Excellence since 2006 to monitor and progress players who demonstrate exceptional footballing ability.

This scheme enables talented players the opportunity to receive extra high quality training with Mike Delaney and his expert team of coaching staff. Other less obvious benefits to players within the School of Excellence includes access to workshops relating to nutrition and pre-match preparation. Players released by Professional academies also have the safety net of the School of excellence which continues to train and nurture it’s players to the point where they may have another opportunity with a pro club.

The Skills Academy is pleased to announce a new football partnership with Charlton Athletic football club and there will be plans to start a new 'Charlton Athletic & Skills Academy Development Centre' in the Bromley Borough in the near future.

There are 9 players from the U16s age group who have already progressed to professional academy level. Should those players be released, the School of Excellence will continue to help them to develop and regain confidence. Mitch Hyland who has attended Skills Academy clubs since the age of 6 has recently been been selected to represent his country at international level.

Mitch Hyland

The School of Excellence does have high standards and expects every player who attends to demonstrate a professional attitude towards training and a willingness to learn.

"It is extremely rewarding to see young players with potential progressing to the highest level in football.

I am fortunate to have excellent coaching staff to support me, namely Mick Strain, who is our outstanding goalkeeper coach and Marc Cumberbatch.

We all share the same enthusiasm for this scheme and the desire to see each player reach their full potential in football. I believe we have set up an unusual if not unique support system for talented young players to make the most of their ability."

- Mike Delaney

Players who fit in to the relevant age categories who would like the opportunity to trial at the School of Excellence are welcome to e-mail details of their age, playing position and current club to skillsacademy@hotmail.co.uk

Elite Sessions

Elite Under 10s

An infant version of the School of Excellence is underway via Skills Academy ‘Elite’ sessions. These take place at Darrick Wood sports centre in Orpington for U10s and U11s. Many of the sessions to date have been coached by Mike Delaney and the clubs are run on an ‘invite only’ basis.

The players who have attended the most recent course have been trained using the new Skill Factor programme. Both groups of players achieved high scores with a large number reaching level 4 and one child Jack Barker achieved level 5 with a maximum score of 30 points from 30!