Morecambe Football Club & LMC Strengthen their 30-Year Partnership

After over thirty years of a successfully active partnership, Lancaster & Morecambe College (LMC) has become the main training base and match day venue for the Morecambe Football Club (MFC)’s Category 3 Academy. 

MFC’s Apprentice Professional Scholars attend College to complete their Level 3 BTEC qualification in Sporting Excellence & Performance, delivered by the LMC Sport department in partnership with League Football Education.

In addition, the Academy train and play on LMC’s industry standard 3G and grass pitches, develop their physical fitness and rehabilitation abilities in the Fitness Suite, and compete in weekend match day programmes, seeing LMC host games against Premier League clubs such as Manchester City & Burnley FC. 

Deputy Programme Area Manager for Sport & MFC Head of Education, Gary Kelly, works alongside MFC Academy Manager & former player, Stewart Drummond, to coordinate the partnership. Both are former Professional Footballers with over twenty years of playing experience and are both UEFA ‘A’ licence qualified football coaches.

Wes Johnson, Principal at LMC, commented: 

Lancaster & Morecambe College is proud to be the official home of Morecambe Football Club’s fantastic Academy. Building on a longstanding relationship, this close connection supports the College’s drive to ensure a strong employer voice in shaping it’s curriculum.  

Our Sport provision is no different, we work hard to ensure that our graduating students have the knowledge, skills and behaviours that our local sport industry needs.

During their time at LMC, MFC Scholars engage with the College’s tutorial programme including activities such as Safe Drive Stay Alive, BRAVE, USA Sport Scholarship applications, UCAS support sessions and careers events. These activities enable the MFC Scholars to receive information, advice, and guidance to support their future career pathways.

Stewart Drummond, Morecambe Football Academy Manger, said: 

Not only are the MFC full-time scholars now training, taking lunch, and undertaking their BTEC education at LMC, but the age 9-16 Academy programme all take place here. It made sense to relocate to the College and further cement our longstanding relationship. 

We look forward to enhancing our club branding and the opportunities that we can offer the community, together in partnership.

The relationship between LMC & MFC also presents opportunities for LMC’s own Football Academy to progress academically and professionally, such as matches with the MFC Youth Team, observation of MFC Academy coaching methods and behaviours, and work placement on MFC’s Community Programme to gain experience in sports coaching, delivering sporting initiatives, engaging with the local community, and supporting their career progression pathways.

This, in addition to completing the National Citizen Service Autumn Programme and completing a two-week football camp in Alicante, helps our learners become well-rounded candidates for any future sporting careers they may pursue. 

If you’re interested in joining the MFC Scholars or LMC Academy, joint trial games are held on LMC’s 3G Pitch every spring. For more information, follow LMC and MFC on Twitter, or phone the LMC Sports Department.