Double win for MK College Football Academy puts teams into national tournament 

MK College’s Football Academy students have secured places in the Association of College’s (AoC’s) national football tournament and both the men’s and women’s teams won their regional tournaments. 

At the AoC Men’s and Women’s Regional Football Tournament at Easton & Otley College in Norfolk in October, each team had to play five games in one day in order to secure their wins. The women’s team didn’t concede a single goal in the entire tournament, while the men’s team won the tournament final in an exciting penalty shootout. 

Karl Daley, captain of the College’s Men’s Elite team, said: “The tournament was unbelievable as an experience, long away days always feel good when you win a match let alone a tournament. Not just us but the women’s team also winning as well made the Academy as a whole feel an amazing sense of togetherness. Being part of the Football Academy hasn’t only aided my ability as a player but also as a person. These years that I’ve been a part of this family has given me so much more confidence in myself on and off the pitch and also so much more enjoyment within football”. 

Olivia West, Women’s Academy player, added: “We are absolutely buzzing about our win! It has been awesome to watch the development of our girls within the academy. Strength and resilience was shown across the pitch and the community that has been built within the team really shone through. Bring on the Nationals! I am so proud to represent this group and the College moving forward”. 

Iain Ellis, Course Team Leader at the College’s Football Academy commented: “We are extremely proud of how the Football Academy students represented the College at the regional tournament. To clean sweep both the men’s and women’s football competitions is an amazing achievement. A 6.30am start with a three hour bus journey always makes it difficult to prepare as a footballer, but the students let this have no effect on the performances throughout the day.  

“Both teams going undefeated and the girls not conceding a goal for the second year in a row is a remarkable achievement from the girls and the coaches, Charlie and Ethan. Qualifying for the nationals in April gives the students something to look forward to but also a weekend away as an Academy will create memories that they will look back on. This just continues our long track record of creating an amazing student experience for our student athletes at Milton Keynes College”. 

The teams will now go onto play at the AoC National Football Tournament at Nottingham University in April. 

To find out more about the Football Academy and other sports courses at Milton Keynes College, visit https://mkcollege.ac.uk/sports/