Mansfield Town Football Club and West Nottinghamshire College have linked up in a new partnership that will enable young footballers at the Stags to further their education from the start of the 2020-21 season.

Stags’ scholars, aged 16 to 18, and the club’s under-21 players, will be based at the RH Academy — the club’s training facility in Pleasley.

The pioneering new partnership will see the Stags’ under-21 and under-18 footballers access a wide range of high-quality courses at both further and higher education level through the college.

It will also enable talented students, both male and female, on full-time college courses to access professional football coaching through Mansfield Town, which will also support students to play in local and national competitive college leagues.

Mansfield Town’s academy director Mark Hawkins said: “West Notts College provides a wide range of A-level subjects as well as vocational and professional qualifications from entry-level to full degrees. This will enable our footballers to choose the educational pathway best suited to their needs.

“Our highly-acclaimed academy prides itself on the highest standards of coaching and football, and places equal emphasis on our players’ educational development and qualifications.”

Potential students can find out more by attending the college’s open day on Saturday, 12th October, from 10am-1pm at the Derby Road campus.