WHILE Chorley FC's first team have been going from strength to strength across the 2023/24 campaign, there have been several success stories to report about within the football club - within our youth age groups and beyond.
Soccer Schools
We've just gone through the school half term and that's marked another one of our successful soccer school camps at West Way Sports Hub, a really good week again this time around with over 95 children attending across the five days.
Darren Jenkinson, chairman of the Chorley FC Community Foundation had this to say following the recent camp:
"Our Soccer School at the Chorley FC Community Foundation offers kids an extraordinary experience, combining the fun of football with the thrill of playing alongside their favourite first team players and our first team manager, Andy Preece.
"We're not just playing football; we're building confidence, and friendships, in kids from the Chorley area - it's great to see returning and new faces to our camps and we look forward to welcoming you to the next one!"
Our next camp is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, April 2, through to Friday, April 12. Further details on how you can book your place to attend for that will be announced in due course.
Player Pathway
As mentioned above, our first team have been performing exceptionally well in the Vanarama National League North this season (currently third with a game in hand).
Manager Andy Preece has had to utilise a number of players who have worked their way through the BTEC and youth systems within the football club, including the likes of Amadou Doumbouya (U21s) and Noel Brindle (U18s).
Noel was first involved with the first team squad back in October when the Magpies took on Gloucester City away, earning himself a place on the substitutes bench.
From there, the 16-year old joined Ashton Town to gain invaluable experience within the senior game before sustaining an injury that kept him sidelined for a short period of time.
Following his return after recovery, Noel was named in the Magpies' senior squad to take on Solihull Moors in the Isuzu FA Trophy fifth round. In the match, Noel made a late cameo having been brought on by Andy Preece and made an immediate impact - very nearly scoring with a shot from distance but his effort was kept out by the fingertip of Nick Hayes.
Andy Preece had this to say regarding the progress of Noel this season:
"Noel is a fine example of an individual who has worked exceptionally hard to get his chance. Noel has come on leaps and bounds at the club and all of this whilst juggling his work around the BTEC education programme.
Some may well have raised eyebrows at Noel's inclusion within squads but everyone saw the impact he made against Solihull Moors and he's only going to get better and better. You'd do well to find a better example of finding somebody to highlight how our player pathway into the first team set up works so well."
Dylan Mascord
Dylan Mascord is a prime example of a success story that's been brought upon through hard work and how football can become a stepping stone into further success, within a different field.
Dylan unfortunately picked up a nasty injury at the beginning of his time working under the BTEC education programme. Through an extremely tough time for him, Dylan was offered the help and support he needed from everybody in the football club during a period where not being able to play was exceptionally hard for him.
In spite of this, Dylan has flourished in his own way off the pitch from getting such a high level of education and now is involved in the fitness industry.
He now runs his own online coaching business as a personal trainer and is fully qualified as a Level Three Personal Trainer and has full qualifications in BSc Sport & Exercise Science.
Dylan had this to say when reflecting on his time spent with Chorley FC and how it has got him to where he is today:
"The BTEC with Chorley was a great stepping stone for me. I was able to understand what it was I wanted to do in my career and also learn many important things about myself.
The set up Chorley has is brilliant for those wanting to develop themselves as individuals and footballers. From the course I found an enjoyment in the resistance training aspect of exercise and therefore took it upon myself to start my own online coaching business LEYO.
From coaching professional footballers and professional fighters, I have now found a massive interest in coaching general population clients to achieve amazing body transformations whilst developing exceptional internal health through bloods analysis and health supplementation.
From that, I am now proud to work with Transcend Physique as an online coach who helps get people in amazing health and shape. Throughout the time of setting up these businesses, I am still undergoing my Bsc Sports & Exercise Science degree which soon comes to an end.
During my time at Chorley, my tutor Richard Steele massively helped me take on this opportunity to go to university and that has opened up a lot of doors for me to get myself into the position I am now in business wise.
So, a big thank you to Chorley and LLS for a great college experience, I would recommend it highly to those who want to work on themselves."
For more information on how to get in touch and word with Dylan, check out https://transcendphysique.co.uk/ or follow him on Instagram @Dylan_Transcend
