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TAFC Owners i2i Sports Takeover CFD

TAFC Owners i2i Sports Takeover CFD

Danny Gore18 Dec 2014 - 16:26

BREAKING NEWS: Tadcaster Albion Owners i2i Sports takeover CFD with the aim of helping more Yorkshire-based players in football and education

i2i Sports is set to become the largest football coaching company in the York area after it officially took over City Football Development (CFD) earlier today.

i2i Sports only set up its Football Academy in the summer, but it already has 130 players on its books aged between 4 and 23 years of age.

Now with the acquisition of CFD, this number is set to more than double – with 350+ youngsters being coached by the company across the city.

Owner Matt Gore said: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Nelly Sanderson and CFD to i2i Sports. It’s perfect timing for both organisations and creates a significantly stronger academy for footballers throughout the region.

“We have some very exciting players within the academy who are being trained by some of the best coaches in the area, and we’re very much looking forward to changing the shape of football in Yorkshire for many years to come.

“As a coach with the York Schoolboys, I’ve worked with many gifted players over the years, and it has always been a hotbed of young footballing talent.

“Our goal at the i2i Football Academy is to give these players the best possible chance of competing in the highest leagues – by equipping them with the right skills, attitude and experience from a young age.”

This is the second acquisition made by i2i Sports after it took over the York-based UST Academy earlier this year, which specialised in coaching players aged over 16 years - both locally and in the USA and Canada.

UST owners Simon Collins and Mike Morton (both FA Level 3/UEFA B qualified) have also joined the i2i Sports Academy where their experience of coaching at Manchester City and Leeds United is proving invaluable.

Former Leeds United player Andy Milne is also on the staff, while CFD Director and Head Coach Nelly Sanderson will continue to work for i2i Sports in a management role.

i2i Sports owner Kent Mayall said: “This is a bringing together of two organisations for the better. We’re going to build on all the strengths of CFD and further enhance the reputation it has built up in York over the last 10 years.

“We also want to draw on Nelly’s local footballing knowledge, as well as his contacts with the players and their parents.

“All of our children went to CFD, so we know first-hand all about the fantastic work he has been doing in the area.”

The i2i Football Academy works with both boys and girls, who train between one and 10 hours a week, whilst also competing in regular development friendlies. Only this week, a mixture of U16 and U19 boys took part in a game against Leeds United Trialists at Thorp Arch.

The Academy has links with Manchester City, Hull City, Leeds United, York City and many others, and is also working in partnership with York College, which enables academy players to pursue sports-based qualifications, whilst improving their football skills.

i2i Sports is also an FA Licensed Agent, which means it is able to represent professionals looking for their next move, as well as players who have been released by their club and need help staying in the game.

Owner James Gore said: “The great thing about the i2i Football Academy is the range of exciting pathways available to all the players.

“We have great relationships with many clubs, which allows us to work in the best interests of each individual player – whether that be pursuing a career in the professional game, gaining a soccer scholarship in the USA or helping them to balance a full time job with non-league football.

“Growing up is a crucial period in anyone’s life, but perhaps none more so than in the life of a footballer. Very few 18-year-olds are likely to give much consideration to their future, so it’s important that our young players get trustworthy advice and support from day-one.

“We’re here to help young players to balance their education with their football, so that we can inspire them to reach their full potential, in whatever way that may be.”

CFD was set up in 2004 when father-of-two Nelly Sanderson decided to set up a coaching company which would give young players in York opportunities which he never had.

Nelly said: “I’m very excited about the future. I’ve known Matt, James and Kent at i2i Sports for a long time now and it’s a coming together of likeminded people.

“We’ve been having these discussions for the last two and a half years and it finally feels like the perfect time for us to take the plunge. I bring years of experience, while they bring the expertise to help me drive things forward.”

Through CFD, Nelly and his team have coached many players who have gone on to have professional careers including Hull City goalkeeper Rory Watson.

“Lots of young players fall out of the game because of a knockback from one of the big local clubs,” said Nelly. “We’re here to tell them that a knockback at 18 does not mean the end to their career.”

Current CFD and i2i players will not be affected by the company changes. All training sessions will continue at the same venues and at the same time - where it will be football as usual.

For more information on the i2i Football Academy, contact Danny Gore on 07957 372457 or Nelly Sanderson on 07779 352603.