A former student has helped the school which set her on the road to success by spearheading a ground-breaking football education academy with Stoke City.

Football fan and player, Dani Taylor, was a student at Sandbach High School and Sixth-Form College before heading off to university to study sports coaching before starting a Masters in the subject.

Dani Taylor (left) with Sarah Fatcher-Friend, head of PE at Sandbach College and Sandbach High School

After leaving Sandbach High School, Dani went on to Staffordshire University where she is currently studying for her Masters.

Dani helped out at Sandbach United Football Club coaching female players and now she has seen a dream come true by helping to open a football academy at Sandbach College, at Sandbach High School.

Stoke City Community Trust has partnered with Sandbach College, part of Sandbach High School, to open the academy to help students gain a first-class post-16 education.

"It's so important to give girls who want to become footballers the chance to do this and combine their studies as well," said Dani, Stoke City's Football Education Academy women's lead."

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"We've been working with Stoke-on-Trent College but I knew how popular football is here and how many players the school has and we're delighted to set up an academy here.

"Women's football is even more in the spotlight after the England women's team won the Lionesses were crowned UEFA Women's EURO 2022 Champions.

"Training and fixtures with professional Stoke City coaches are incorporated into the college timetable to enable aspiring footballers to pursue a dual-career pathway, developing their football and education throughout their post-16 studies."

And the college has appointed a sports athlete and development co-ordinator, Luke Moran, to help train and coach the institution's elite athletes.

Luke, who has played semi-professional football, has a degree in Sports Science from Loughborough University and is excited about the new role.

Sandbach College's new sports athlete and development co-ordinator, Luke Moran.

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"I am really pleased to be part of what is happening in Sandbach and look forward to working with the athletes."

Sandbach High School headteacher, Ellen Walton, said she was delighted with the new partnership with Stoke City Community Trust and the appointment of the sports athlete and development co-ordinator.

She said: "This offers a bespoke programme for our talented athletes and the partnership with Stoke City enables our students to be successful footballers as well as benefit from our successful 'A' Level provision." 

Want to get involved with the new academy? Contact [email protected] or visit sandbachcollege.co.uk