Future football stars in Shepway and Ashford will get a shot at professional football after a school agreed to become a football academy with Gillingham Football Club.

The Marsh Academy in New Romney has signed a deal with The Gills for promising young footballers to get a chance in the game whilst getting an education.

PE teacher Stuart Farlow said it would be “fantastic” for the school if someone was signed to a professional contract and follow in the footsteps of Gills academy graduates Bradley Dack and Jake Hessenthaler, who have shone in the club’s League 1 promotion challenge this season.

But he told KentOnline the programme run through the GFC Community Trust is about more than just finding professional footballers.

Mr Farlow said: “We’re not selling something that’s not possible. We’re not saying they will be signed by a professional club.

“That will be fantastic but it’s actually about showing them the pathways, about the jobs in football and in sport. That’s where the coaching, refereeing and strength and conditioning for things like personal training come in.”

An open evening for the course is being held at the Marsh Academy in Station Road next Thursday (January 14) from 6pm to 7.30pm.

The programme, which is open for 16 to 18-year-olds from September, will allow pupils to also take up traditional academic subjects or vocational courses alongside developing their football ability.

Mr Farlow added: “We wanted people to be able to be academic and not just hold them down to football. I started in September and I approached Gillingham with the idea of having something like this.

“It was to make it really different from anything else. It gives the kids as wide and a diverse option as possible.”

There are five hours of training each week as part of the programme.

The new development side for the Marsh Academy will play against other Gillingham development sides and football academies in a league competition.

They will run out in new bespoke Gillingham kits, be coached by Gills coaching staff and get access to the team’s training ground during the year.

Other clubs including Brentford, Charlton and Brighton were approached but the school chose to go with The Gills.

The school is trying to tie in the scheme with football clubs at the grassroots level as well as Folkestone Invicta, Hythe Town and Ashford United.

Full details and a prospectus is available via the school’s website at www.marshacademy.org.uk or contact Stuart Farlow on 01797 364593 or SFarlow@marshacademy.org.uk