The new partnership will create a new pathway for young football players to gain an education while having access to increased training and playing opportunities at the college.

The new programme will be launched at the College's Open Evening on Thursday 1st February. Anyone who is interested is encouraged to come along to speak to representatives from both the college and the football club between 5.30pm and 7.30pm at Cronton Sixth Form.

Keen footballers who are studying A level and Vocational programmes at the college will now have the opportunity to take part in two training sessions per week, alongside extra strength and conditioning sessions and a midweek football game. The College plans to develop two new college football teams and introduce a new female development team as part of the Centre of Sporting Excellence.

This exciting partnership will mean that football will become a larger focus for the Centre of Excellence in Sport at the College. With the help of the coaching team at Widnes FC, the College will have the opportunity to provide both male and female students with professional support alongside the potential to play for the First Team, as Widnes coaches will be on hand to select future stars.

Sport degree students at the College will be able to make use of their new skills and the state of the art facilities in the new sports lab in the IDEA Centre, working with First Team players to enhance their sporting potential and performance on the pitch.

Chairman Ian Ross and Joint First Team Manager Kevin Towey visited Cronton Sixth Form College earlier this week to finalise the final details of the partnership with the sports team and meet some of the current footballers at the College.

Ian said: “I’m naturally delighted about us agreeing to this partnership between Widnes FC and Cronton College. It’s been on the agenda since last year, and in the true meaning of partnership it has been driven by both parties, and I’m certain the college are as excited about it as we are.

"The club are embarking on a new chapter in our short history over the coming months, and to have this link up now couldn’t have come at a better time for either party. I’d like to place on record a special thanks to Mark Brennan and Iain Douglas from the college who have worked alongside us to get everything agreed, and look forward to continued success for both of us over the coming years.”

Iain Douglas, Head of School (Sport and Public Services) at Cronton said: “The partnership with Widnes FC and our Centre of Sporting Excellence Football Team will provide players with a realistic opportunity to be selected to play at a higher level whilst studying there chosen academic programme at the College.

"The players will get access to high level coaching from Widnes FC & our Coaches that will significantly improve the player’s technical, tactical and psychological performance levels.

"We are really looking forward to working with such a professional, ambitious club who are looking for continuous improvement.”