RECRUITMENT for the Charlton Athletic Women’s Football Academy is taking place for the 2005-06 academic year.

The Academy, which opened in September 1999, provides a football programme exclusively for women. Since its inception just over four years ago, 23 players have progressed into the first team squad, while two have made the England national squad.

The Academy offers the advanced apprenticeship in sporting excellence, in partnership with the FA Premier League, and provides successful students with a qualification equivalent to two A-levels.

Based on two sites at Kent’s Canterbury High School and the London Leisure College in Greenwich, Academy students live in halls of residence, stay with local families or live at home.

Training sessions run for a minimum of eight and a maximum 10 hours a week using campus and Charlton Athletic training ground facilities.

A wide range of courses are offered at London Leisure College and Greenwich University, plus the advanced apprenticeships in sporting excellence - including BTEC national qualifications - are studied at Canterbury High School where students are paid weekly expenses.

Students play in competitive matches at the weekend for their club and fixtures are also organised for Wednesday afternoons.

Interested players will be invited to attend an open day and trials. These take place for both campuses at Canterbury High School on Saturday, May 28. Trials run from 11am to 1pm with the open day from 2pm to 3pm.

For further information call Deb Browne on 0208 298 2734.