England Universities programme outline 2009 - 2010

Representative programme this year 2009 - 2010...

Kit deal for regional squads
Bryn Clark (Hertfordshire) has manged to source a sponsorhsip deal from ERREA which has allowed the programme to gain three new Regional kits for this year. We are very grateful to Bryn and ERREA for making this happen.

This year we are yet again attempting to daliver an even better product for the students in our sector. The following is what we have been working on:

Regional Programme...

Regional Trials - 22nd Sunday Novemeber
Venues North York University
Midlands Warwick University
South Hertfordshire University
The 3rd annual Regional tournament - 21st & 22nd December
Venue Warwick University
North v Midlands v South
Current champions are the MIDLANDS

National programme...

Development game

England Universities development squad v Chelsea (November 09 - date TBA)

Training and selection

- England Universities training and selection camp - Warwick University - 4th & 5th January
Going overseas
- England Universities tour to Guernsey to play National team March 2009
- England Universities tour to Estonia to play U20s and club side (in current discussions). This will include player commitment to delivering sessions in schools, football development outcomes and coaching workshops. Currently all under negotiation. May 2009

Fixtures at home

- Leicester City FC
- Sunderland FC
- Notts County FC

Representative fixtures

- Confirmation on British University Games
- England Universities v French Universities March 2009

Players are aske dto look out via BUCS Essentials and their Athletic Unions for the nomination process in the next few weeks.

2009 Football update - whats been happening?

Futsal

This year Loughborough and Hartpury will be flying the flag for the HE sector in the National Futsal finals in Swindon this year. This is a greet achievement and we wish them both very well.
Universities in the Non League pyramid

The season started for many back in July with pre season preparations for the season ahead. UWE have started well with their new partnership with Almondsbury FC in the Western League, Loughborough now in the Midland Alliance, Leeds Met in the North East Counties and Northumbrian in the Northern League have all got off to a solid start.

Player watch

It is great to see that our students are doing well in their respective club environments. The numbers of high quality players are increasing, along with the development of those that are currently playing league football. To highlight a few...Steve Davies (UWE Hartpury) is playing regularly in the Football Conference with Forest Green Rovers as is Toby Little (Brunel) who is playing for Hayes and Yeading. Ben Purkiss (York) who represented Great Britain this summer is consistently performing for York City under Martin Foyle.

We have as usual many players playing at the top level of the non league game and with 4 England C call ups from players who have come through the EU set up has been great reward for all involved.

Domestic Football

This year BUCs have moved the final now to 10th March as part of the Championships in Sheffield and john Warnock has been instrumental in helping getting Bramall Lane as a venue. This year well see University football's climax end in March for the first time in over 20 years.
Representative programme
The following email will highlight the exciting programme we are attempting to deliver for our better players this year.
Bryn and George and the Regional staff having been working really hard to get the trials etc organised and I would ask you all to ensure you and your local Universities support this process in our bid to give lads a chance to move through the programme.

Bradley Pritchard Column

Former England Universities star Bradley Pritchard who is playing for Tamworth now has his own column on the BBC website. The ex-Loughborough University ace graduated from his Masters in the summer after winning BUCS against Hartpury in the final at Loftus Road.