Having just announced a three year main sponsorship extension between Boreham Wood Football Club and Barnet and Southgate College last week. The club and college can further announce that BW PASE Academy and the College have signed yet another three year Sports/Education contract extension until June 2021.
The contract in terms of numbers is believed to be the largest of its kind throughout the UK and it factors in future student/scholar growth, regarding our already record breaking student numbers.
It will also continue to incorporate our multi education and training sites and will include an incredible range of courses that include Construction and CYQ courses, A levels, and BTEC’s, plus all manner of options like Media, Art and so many other tailor-made courses that make our scheme so attractive…
This contract extension will also further enforce our club Chairman Danny Hunter’s belief in investing in youth, while employing more local coaches, more local catering staff, more local medical, kit and match-day staff to facilitate the ever-blossoming scheme.
This contract is expected to help create additional opportunities for our scholars in the workplace and in further education. The new contract is expected to grow our local community department and our staffing levels – as we look to increase our involvement within our local schools.
We’d also like to expand our help to our local Mencap, special needs and Dementia groups with increased and wider provision and try to help all things community related where possible.
Wood Chairman Danny Hunter said: “For the 15th straight year, our enrolment, retention and success rates and numbers seem to outgrow the existing contract. As such, we’ve had to again factor in possible record-breaking enrolment numbers come this September. As always, my aim is to give our students, our staff and our education partners everything and more in regards to their wants, needs and expectations, while continuing to quietly build our community football club’s infrastructure and its facilities to meet the next level.”
Hunter continued: “It’s important for everyone to understand we are still the lowest supported team in the National League. So, for us to keep progressing is more than difficult, as we must firstly manage unrealistic expectations, while we continue to grow our fan base, our community involvement and continue to try and remain in this division.
“I genuinely see this contract as an opportunity for me to continue to improve us both on and off the park. But I must align sensible ambition to sustainable growth and this season is already a huge challenge budget wise, especially if we are to build the new North Stand.
“But with a bit of further investment from myself it is achievable and by me perhaps employing one or two additional local people – who share my mindset in supporting all things local, we can and will further build the club in a few key areas.
“Put simply, our partnership with Barnet and Southgate College is more of a longstanding friendship that is very special. The support they’ve shown me over many, many years, especially by my great friend and College Principle David Byrne and Director of Employer Partnerships Tracey McIntosh, is humbling and been built on trust, loyalty, belief, student success and sustainable growth.
“Our joint ambition was and is to always improve things for local kids and local people by giving them opportunities to better themselves. We’ve shown year on year, by simply having the appetite in adversity to work our socks off, that you can improve things collectively for others and you can silence the doubters.
“I believe our track record for providing local education and sporting success is a beacon of hope to youngsters and we’re second to none within our chosen field. We’ve got the historic growth, the historic academic success rates to point to and we’ve demonstrated our footballing success over many, many years and it’s still improving and shows why we are progressing.
“In truth, I’m very, very proud of David, Tracey and the College, I’m proud of our ongoing partnership, proud of our small community football club, proud of my staff, and proud to be a part of our community, but more importantly, I’m proud of the opportunities that we are providing to others.
“Though perhaps selfishly, one of my proudest moments was walking up Wembley Way with four thousand of my fellow supporters and my community back in May at the Promotion Final. Trust me, that walk and that feeling will live with me forever and it was in truth this partnership with this college, and these people that gave me, my town and our club a platform to compete.”
David Byrne, Principal of Barnet and Southgate College, said: “Barnet and Southgate College is excited to be working with Boreham Wood Football Club for a further three years on this innovative sports education partnership for local 16-18-year olds. A number of our courses including: A-levels, BTEC ICT, BTEC in Sport and Construction programmes have been tailored to work alongside the Club’s elite young footballers’ training programme.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity to play football and at the same time gain a qualification. The Football Club and Chairman Danny Hunter have great contacts and so many previous students have caught the eye of England Colleges selectors, professional clubs and achieved football scholarships in the USA, while thousands have gone onto University or into the workplace.”
Tracey McIntosh, Barnet and Southgate Director of Employer Partnerships, said: “As a college we recognise the great work the club does locally. As such, over the last seven years we have worked very closely with the club and their Chairman Danny Hunter to help meet local educational needs through our established joint education/sports programmes, so we’re delighted to extend our partnership with the BWFC PASE academy for a further three Years and continue working with the club.”
