NEW ERA

This year see's the dawn of a new era at the 'Academy'. From it's inception the 'Academy' was run by Robert Davidson, but Robert has moved on to pastures new and has hopes of attaining his UEFA 'A' Licence and for this he has to be working with an adult team. The club has saw the good work that Robert has achieved and plan to let his work continue to progress, to this aim they have appointed Nigel Armstrong to take over in the position of Football Development Centre Director. In May 2008 the Academy was assessed by the I.F.A. with regards to becoming a CIS Mini Soccer Centre and passed. This means that the Academy is now a CIS Mini Soccer Centre.

NIGEL ARMSTRONG

Nigel Armstrong has already attained his UEFA 'B' Licence and is a well known figure in local football circles having worked with Irish League Second Division side Annagh United as well as running numerous soccer coaching schools. Nigel also runs a sports shop in Portadown town centre called NA Sports.

ACADEMY SESSIONS

The Academy training sessions take place each Tuesday at Kernan Playing Fields from 6pm to 7pm. This seasons Academy will cater for children born between 1999 & 2002. There will be a limit to the number of children who will be able to participate and if previous years are anything to go by these places will be snapped up very quickly indeed. To register your child for the Academy application forms are available at NA Sports.

COACHES

Working along with Nigel are a number of coaches from the club. Most of those coaches have already attained their I.F.A. Coaching Certificates. They are Keith Hall, Geoff Smyth, Michael Lynch, Trevor Hall. Also working beside these coaches are Andy Black, Roderick Joyce & U15 player William Davison. It is the club's intention to have all the coaches who coach the children at the minimum of I.F.A. Level 1.