MALDON & TIPTREE FC are getting ready to launch a new youth scheme at the club.
The club has linked up with PASS Soccer – which is run by Town midfielder Ollie Berquez and co-founder Lee Honeywood – and will be holding an open trial day this weekend.
The programme will combine education and football, and any player aged between 16 and 18 is welcome to attend the trial at the club's Wallace Binder Stadium at 11am on Saturday.
Berquez, who has represented a number of non-league clubs across the county in his career, has been involved with PASS for more than ten years and has seen plenty of success stories.
He told the Chronicle: "It's all ready to start from September.
"It's going to be a good scheme. Eddy's (Garty) an ambitious chairman, and he will look to bring players through.
"We're in our 11th year now so I think with the combination of the two we could really bring a good programme here.
"We've had over 75 kids sign for pro clubs and five of them have managed to play at youth level internationally.
"Earlier this month we had one of our boys, goalkeeper Dan Bentley, on the bench for Southend at Wembley.
"It's great for us to see kids progressing that well. We do know what we're talking about – if you've got a talent in football, you can progress."
Chelmsford City are already benefiting from a similar scheme run in conjunction with Chelmsford College.
And as well as providing potential new players for the club, Berquez insists it will be beneficial for the youngsters.
"It's similar to Chelmsford, but all the education is at the club," he added. "We want to bring players through and really progress them.
"With our links to pro sides they can go on further.
"But in the worst case they will do their A-Levels and if they don't have a career in football they might have a career coaching with us or even go on to university, so there's options.
"We can give opportunities, or it's a pathway to university or to stay in education."
Two of PASS's recent success stories will be in attendance on Saturday. George Cole and Elliott Wright are at Arsenal and Chelsea, having come through the PASS process.
On the field, it was a disappointing weekend for Maldon & Tiptree as their Ryman League Division One North title hopes were ended by a 2-0 loss at champions Grays.
Town will now focus on finishing second and therefore earning home advantage in the play-offs.
They host Tilbury on Saturday, before finishing the campaign at home to Brentwood next Thursday and away to Wroxham on April 27.
