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HAVERHILL'S new Football Academy has got off to a flying start in its first season, losing only two games out of 16 so far.
St Edmundsbury Borough Council set up academies this year, giving 18 youngsters at Haverhill and 24 at Bury St Edmunds the chance to combine training with a professional coach and academic studies.
The academies were officially launched at a friendly inaugural match earlier this month at the West Suffolk Arena's floodlit pitch, which is home turf for the Bury Academy.
Haverhill won 1-0 with a goal from Danny Johnson, after both teams were introduced to the mayor of St Edmundsbury, Coun Margaret Horbury.
The opening match and both teams kits were sponsored by Arriva, which has large establishments in both towns.
Haverhill coach Robert Munro said he was very pleased with the way his players were shaping up.
The academy team is so far unbeaten in the Halstead League and in its latest outing on Saturday gave Toppesfield an 8-2 thrashing.
They also have a team in the Anglian Floodlit League played on Thursday nights, with home games at the Haverhill Rovers ground. Their last result was an impressive 7-0 away win at Gamlingay.
"They do two hours training on the astroturf five days a week," said Munro. "I think they found it quite hard at first, but they have knuckled down to it well and are a very fit team now.
"The standard of the football is a lot better than I had expected; there are some good players in there who could go a bit further."
The academy is likely to grow in May when more trials will be held and a further 16 players, aged between 16 and 19, could be taken on and another coach appointed.
Youngsters attending the academy are also given the chance to obtain coaching, refereeing, life guard and first aid skills, as well as providing support coaching for junior teams.
Picture caption: LINE UP . . . the Haverhill Academy squad with their sponsors.