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Reaseheath supports Crewe Alex fitness programme

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Crewe Alexandra Football Club is continuing to use cutting edge sports science equipment at Reaseheath College in Nantwich to help players gain peak fitness.

All first team players have recently visited Reaseheath’s campus for maximal fitness testing in the college’s sports science laboratory. As well as using a medical treadmill, the elite athletes went through field based lactate threshold tests in the laboratory and used top-of-the-range equipment in the campus gym for their warm-up and cool down routines.  The procedure was repeated the following day with the Under 21 and Under 18 squads.

The data will be used by Andy Franks, Head of Sports Science and Conditioning at Crewe Alex, to check the base level of fitness of each player and to set personalised training programmes. The squads will return to check their progress a further three times in the next twelve months. The data collection was carried out by Reaseheath Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport Performance students, many of whom will progress to careers in coaching or sport fitness.

Reaseheath’s gym was refurbished to professional standard last year and Crewe Alex FC was one of the first to use the sports science laboratory to help train its athletes. The results were so positive that the club has decided to increase its number of visits to the college gym over the coming season.

Andy Franks said: “By using Reaseheath’s sophisticated testing equipment, we have been able to set accurate training zones for our pre-season training programmes, individualised for each player.  We found this was very helpful in getting the teams to maximum fitness last season and plan to increase our use of the sports lab this year.”

Reaseheath Sport Performance Course Manager Richard Brooke said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to practise and develop their skills by working with local, talented, professional athletes. Our students learn sports science and coaching techniques as part of their course and this has been a chance for them to see how critical these skills are in the industry they plan to join. We have also been delighted to support Crewe Alex.”

Reaseheath College and Crewe Alex FC have a long established partnership. Reaseheath delivers the academic training to Crewe Alex Academy apprentices, with scholars achieving the best grades in the country. This year graduating apprentice and Crewe Alex first team striker George Cooper was crowned ‘Apprentice of the Year’ in a national competition run by the League Football Education.

In return, many of Reaseheath’s sports performance students complete work experience with Crewe Alex, gaining an insight into the possibilities of career progression within the football industry.

In September Reaseheath is launching Ladies’ and Men’s Football Academies in partnership with Crewe Alex which will enable talented young footballers to enhance their football skills while studying for a nationally recognised sport qualification.

For further details on Reaseheath’s sports courses and academies see www.reaseheath.ac.uk/sport-performance

Talented George is Apprentice of the Month

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Talented Crewe Alexandra FC forward George Cooper has been selected as apprentice of the month in a national competition ‘The 11’ run by the League Football Education (LFE).

The first team player was chosen over entrants from clubs nationwide for the outstanding progress he made in both his sport and academic studies while he has been an apprentice at the famous Crewe Alex Football Academy.

George, 18, will be one of 11 football apprentices to go head to head in a national final at the end of the season. He was put forward for the competition after impressing Reaseheath College Lecturer in Sports Performance Lauren Goff, Head of Education at Crewe Alex Dave Whiteside and Regional Officer for the LFE Keith Leighton.

George, who lives in Warrington, was offered a three year professional contract by Crewe Alex last April and has played and scored in several League One matches.  As well as continuing his football training with the club, he is a student at Reaseheath College in Nantwich, where he and fellow Academy members study sports science related topics which will be useful for their later careers.

A former pupil at St Gregory’s Catholic High School, Warrington, George is due to finish his studies in May and is on track to complete his Level 3 Diploma in Sport Performance and Excellence qualification as well as Functional Skills at Level 2 in Maths and English.

Course manager Lauren explained: “We put George forward because he has worked hard at his academic studies. He has also shown maturity by the way he has coped with the demands of continuing his education alongside his blossoming career as a professional footballer. He will be an asset in any sporting career.”

George said: “I was surprised and very pleased to be put forward for this award. Although I enjoy playing football, being a member of the Academy and coming to college has given me the chance to study subjects like nutrition and coaching. This will help widen my career choices after I’ve retired from professional playing.”

Reaseheath and Crewe Alexandra FC have worked together for some years to deliver the academic programme for the Football Academy. Reaseheath is now launching a Ladies Football Academy in partnership with Crewe Alex to give talented young female footballers the chance to enhance their football skills while studying for a nationally recognised sport qualification. Applications being taken now. For further details email kate.humphrey@reaseheath.ac.uk