An academy in the Midlands has teamed up with one of Europe's most famous football clubs to develop future players.
Amethyst Academy, in Wolverhampton, has signed a deal with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to create the PSG Academy West Midlands. It gives talented young footballers access to the French Ligue 1 club's latest training methods and techniques while continuing to give them an academic education.
The academy said that it offered students a program that balances top-level football training with academic excellence, with the aim for young players to learn football the way that the Parisian club does on a regular basis.
On this deal, Director of PSG England, Alex Harrap, said: "They have technical directors who come over to the UK every year.
"Our technical director visits Paris on a regular basis and has weekly meetings with the team in Paris to ensure that the sessions being delivered in the UK match the standards of the club." Even school dinners are based on what professional clubs feed their players - lots of carbs and proteins to help maintain fitness.
Students continue to study for their A levels alongside their football training, which the school said ensures "they are well-prepared for life both on and off the pitch". The partnership has proved popular with Amethyst's young footballers.
Captain of the boys' team, Jack Brownlow, said: "I think if you make it international, more people will recognise it as a big thing.
“Wolves is just around the corner, but if it's a big club like PSG it makes everyone internationally aware of what we're doing here." Girls' team captain, Katie Whitehouse, agreed, saying: "Definitely for the girls to have that opportunity to do it as well, and to be able to play with the boys, representing PSG, is just great."
