Morpeth Town AFC Academy

Morpeth Town AFC Academy was formed in September 2021.

The vision of our post-16 (U17-U19) Academy was to give the young people of Northumberland somewhere they could achieve a first-class outstanding education both academic & vocational while training & playing the game they love, full-time.

Building a new formidable partnership for 2024 with Ofsted outstanding education specialists Northumberland College. Morpeth Town became the first full-time football college programme in the country to offer trades in construction & engineering around a full-time football programme. After the successful creation of a Women’s first team the academy was expanded to include female student athletes for the first time in 2025.

Our student athletes have a plethora of study options which include but are not limited to:

Academic Pathway with qualifications achieving UCAS points
A-Levels in subjects such as Biology, Sociology & Sport
Level 3 Extended Diplomas in subjects such as Sport & Engineering

Vocational pathways include:

Agriculture (based at Kirkley Hall)
Barbering
Brickwork
Carpentry & Joinery
Electrical installation (new for 2026)
Hair & Beauty
Plumbing
Plumbing & Heating

As a male or female player individuals that are accepted into the Academy combine a first-class education with a full-time football development programme, with the programme overseen by Football Operations Manager, Steven Shaw & delivered by a high-quality team of coaches including former professional footballers Luke James and Ryan Donaldson, with other names on the coaching staff including Ryan Wombwell, Orla Callaghan, and specialist goalkeeper provision from Nathan Harker.

Each week, our Academy students professional coaching sessions include specialist technical & tactical coaching alongside performance analysis utilising the HUDL/Wyscout performance software.

Our teams compete in the highest level of competitive games programme outside of the EPPP system, which sees them compete in competitions such as the FA Youth Cup & the National Football Youth League with games also in the Youth Development League.

The pathway to the first team is well trodden now with over 20 players having made their first team debuts with current first team players Will Dowling, Matty Griggs, Ryan Chater & Aaron Chungh being either former or current academy graduates/players. With the possibility of international recognition as well due to access to the England College’s squad available, with former graduates Noah Millington and Bailey Geliher both representing England previously.

Northumberland College

It’s not just your footballing education that Morpeth Town AFC care about, but your academic education too and the two work in tandem. Northumberland College has a great reputation for its teaching and learning, and its students have exceeded the national average for achievement rates and high grades for the last five years.

Players at Morpeth Town Academy can select to study sport courses at levels one to five, or study three A-level subjects alongside the Academy coaching sessions and competitive games in the highest leagues accessible, ensuring our academy players meet their footballing and career aims.

The quality of the education and support we provide to our Academy players is paramount to us. That is why we are committed to developing our programmes to ensure that they meet the highest possible quality standards, are delivered by industry experts and are endorsed by both universities and key industry employers. Northumberland College has consistently achieved the highest rates of student satisfaction.

With a recent multi-million pound investment in the college estate, Academy players develop their industry skills in our training facilities both at Craik Park and the impressive facilities at the brand new for 2026 Wansbeck Business Park Campus.

The new site is going to be a centre of technical excellence with technical pathways for electrical and mechanical engineering, robotics and automation, civil engineering and groundworks, automotive and green transport, housing and modern construction. The new site will be Including the:

School of Engineering, Manufacturing and Automotive
School of Construction

The Heart of the Campus will be home to the college’s:

School of Health and Science, featuring a simulated hospital ward and science labs
English, maths and ESOL
School of Education and Childcare
School of Business, Visitor Economy and Commercial Industries
School of Sport, Exercise and Well-being
School of Computing and Technology
Specialist hub for young people and adults aged 16-25 years with SEND
Pathways for employability
Science laboratories, industry-standard workshops and an immersive lab
Commercial restaurant open to the public and local businesses for use

To join the academy or receive more information please click on the button below.