Lowestoft Town FC has teamed up with the country’s largest private training provider to help inspire young learners to future careers in sports, media and the public sector.

As many students received their GCSE results today (Thursday), Lowestoft Town FC have announced an exciting new education partnership with Access Sport (Access Creative College).

The partnership will see the delivery of a range of enriched BTEC Study programmes for boys and girls aged 16-19 that will inspire pathways onto higher education, overseas scholarships, employment and future careers within coaching, sport science, media, event management, public sector and Esports.

Delivering education for more than 30 years, Access Creative College provides creative and digital education across seven college campuses within the UK - Norwich, London, Bristol, Lincoln, Birmingham, Plymouth and Manchester - and 16 sport, football programmes nationally including the Steven Gerrard Academy under the Access Sport brand.

Lowestoft Town Academy Manager Andy Reynolds said: “I am delighted that we have found a partner that shares the values we have in regards to the education and enrichment of our sports academy programme.

"I am grateful to East Coast College for their support in working with us following the liquidation of Sentinel Leisure and the Football Industry College.

"As conversations progressed with ECC it was clear their vision for the 22/23 course didn’t place as much value on the enrichment experiences as we want to be delivering.

"In Access Sport, we have a partner that has already shown us their passion to ensure the learner journey is well rounded and will give all of the students the best possible chance to achieve in the classroom and in their chosen pathway.

"I am confident that moving forward our programme is unrivalled for its opportunities and experiences that will be on offer”.

The benefits of the exciting new partnership will support the growth and development of local young people even further to expand on the many success stories to already come out of the Lowestoft Town FC Sport Education Programme.

One example is former student Cion Wren (pictured) who after graduating with his extended diploma in sport science, progressed onto the University of Suffolk achieving a degree.

Within this time Cion had an extensive work placement within the Sports Science and Analysis team at Ipswich Town FC's first team and supported the successful women’s team in their physical development.

Cion has now successfully secures a position as strength and conditioning coach at Lowestoft Town FC and will return as a tutor for the sport education programme from September.

Further afield former Kirkley & Pakefield FC and Lowestoft Town student and player Ant Cox is preparing for his second year with Bellevue Bruins University in Nebraska, America after securing a US Scholarship after completing his education programme with Lowestoft Town in 2021.

The scholarship awarded on academic and athletic merit saw Ant appear in all 21 competitive games for the Bellevue Bruins as they won the conference title while studying for a degree in Sports Management.

In his first year as a scholar, Ant has put his name in the record books by becoming the only first year student in Bellevue Bruins history to assist 10 goals - which saw him earn a place in the Men’s Soccer All-Conference Second Team end of season awards.

Ant’s performance for the Bruins also caught the eye of Tri Cities F.C (Otters Soccer) who signed him to represent them in the semi-professional USL2 Southern Conference Division for the summer months.

Having spent the summer in Tennessee, Virginia competing in a league with links to MLS teams to continue his sport development, Ant now returns for his second year with Bellevue Bruin’s alongside former Lowestoft students Buster Honeywood and Fletcher Hedge.

The Lowestoft Town Sport Education programme powered by Access Sport is designed for learners across all sports not just football to use their passion to develop academically and athletically in their chosen field or specialism.

One learner who will be joining the programme in September will be William Ellard who swims for St Felix Swimming Club in Southwold, and is currently one of the top national 16-year-old swimmers within Great Britain.

Over the past 12 months William has won the 50m Freestyle at the Suffolk County Championships along with competing at the British Swimming Championships across six events, qualifying for four finals, picking up personal best times and a silver medal in the 50m freestyle.

As he prepares to join the Lowestoft Town Sport Education Programme William said: “As part of my Access Sport educational programme the benefits this will bring to my regime, the DISE programme and my swimming schedule at St Felix, fuels my ambitions to hopefully one day being accepted on the British Swimming Optimal National Framework for my ultimate goal of competing for Team GB.”

Gary Judge, Director of Access Sport, said: “We are delighted to have agreed this partnership with Lowestoft Town Football Club to deliver a sport education programme from both Barnards Soccer Centre Lowestoft and the Football Development Centre in Norwich.

"Combining our expertise in further and higher education with such a renowned Community focused club and academy will only create enhanced learning experiences both on and off the pitch for those who join the programme in September.

“Our further education programme inspires students to fulfil their potential by using their passion for sport to develop personal skills, promote health and wellbeing and achieve recognised academic qualifications that will support in their progression onto higher education, U.S Scholarships, direct employment and future careers within the world of sport, media, events management, public sector and more...”

Alongside this exciting partnership with Access Sport, Lowestoft Town will continue to offer great football progression routes for all abilities with relationships with local clubs, exciting industry and work experiences opportunities across numerous fields, and a free gym membership for all students thanks to a partnership with The New Body Gym.

As students prepare to collect their GCSE results on Thursday, August 25, The Lowestoft Sport Education Programme still has capacity to take on any learners who may still be considering their options for September or is interested in this new further education sport programme.

For anyone wanting to find out more please email academy@lowestofttownfc.co.uk