Football
YOU CAN DO SPORT FOOTBALL ACADEMY
You will experience between 8-10hrs per week of skills-based training from former elite footballers and professionals in the game.
Our highly experienced football coaches and staff share your passion for Sport and, as former pros, have been involved in the game at some of the highest achievable levels themselves - from players to coaches and club managers.. This places them in an unparalleled position to help students develop their skill, equip them with the right, positive attitude and mind-set to overcome challenges and to teach them invaluable skills and qualities they can use throughout their lives.
Our advanced coaching programmes, both indoor and outdoor, cover strength and conditioning, technical, tactical, physical, psychological, and social development, and individual performance analysis.
This is a unique opportunity for students with a keen and active interest in football or sport more broadly. Be it as a relative beginner or as a former academy player capable of playing at semi-professional and elite levels.
Our home ground is the YMCA Newark & Sherwood, Community & Activity Village. A state-of-the-art, £17 million pound sports development based in Newark boasting 3G and 4G football pitches. Students train here 4 days a week and also play their home fixtures here.
THE FACILITIES
YMCA COMMUNITY AND ACTIVITY VILLAGE, NEWARK AND SHERWOOD
At the YMCA Community and Activity Village, YCDS students are privileged to various state-of-the-art sports facilities to enhance their skills and promote a healthy lifestyle.
The YMCA houses two professional-standard 3G all-weather football pitches, offering a perfect environment for football clubs, training sessions, and matches. The pitches come in various sizes, providing a welcoming space for players of all ages. Their design is inclusive, ensuring they cater to the needs of all enthusiasts, from beginners to seasoned players. Regular sessions led by experienced coaches are also part of the package, promising an enriching football experience.
Athletics is another area where YMCA shines. It's an athletics paradise with a top-tier track and field facility with a 400m rubberised running track, hurdles, a long jump trench, high jump mats, and discus netting. It's designed to serve club training ann individual training for personal goals. The all-weather track and floodlighting also ensure uninterrupted training during winter.
YMCA is also home to a comprehensive Strength & Conditioning Gym at the heart of the YMCA Village. This fitness haven boasts a spacious, well-equipped area with skilled coaches ready to guide students through a broad range of classes and personal training options. The gym also offers an exclusive outdoor section for those who prefer training in fresh air during warmer months.
Gary Charles - Head Football Coach
Former England international and Head Football Coach Gary Charles' career as a skilled right-back saw him playing at the highest level for clubs including Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Derby County and West Ham, alongside legends including Roy Keane, Harry Redknapp and Brian Clough.
Gary also has his own Sports Management Agency managing over 30 elite football players.
Gary is the founder of GCSportsCare, which provides advice and support for sports people who are experiencing a wide range of problems.
Key experience includes:
UEFA A & B Licence
Played for England, twice
Nuneaton Town FC 1st Team Manager
Director of Football University of Nottingham
Assistant Manager Lincoln City FC
Played for SL Benfica in the Portuguese Premier League
Six years in player recruitment at Burnley FC, Ipswich Town FC and Sunderland AFC