Introducing the Shalford Youth Academy . . .
15 May 2008

Building on the vision and endeavours of the club's Chairman Andy Rudman, the Shalford Youth Academy was established in July 2005 to provide a link between youth football and the men's game in the Guildford area. Working with young players in the 15-20 age range, the strategic aim of the Academy is to develop a 'talent pool' of emerging young Shalford players capable of challenging for places in the club's senior sides in the seasons ahead.

Now in its 6th season, the day-to-day operations of the Academy are overseen by award-winning coach Andy Walker including weekly training sessions held at Broadwater School between 8pm & 10pm on Tuesday evenings and competitive fixtures in Guildford & Woking Alliance League on Saturday afternoons. In addition, our Academy staff organise regular social events and team-building sessions, many of which are subsidised by the club.

In addition to developing football skills and physical fitness, the Academy also actively promotes the high standards of conduct and discipline expected at the club, on and off the pitch.

The club's enduring ethos and underpinning principles of 'fun, fellowship & adventure' also emphasised here with a view to producing not only decent footballers but purposeful and decent young men who are humble in victory, gracious in defeat and courteous and confident in all their dealings with the club and its guests. It is our abiding belief that the development of these qualities in our members benefits not only Shalford Football Club but also our local community and society at large.