A Brisbane school has clinched a deal with Manchester City to train the next generation of soccer champions through a new football program.
English Premier League's Manchester City has established the state's only Manchester City Football School at St Laurence's College.
The football school will involve coaching programs delivered by a Manchester City coach for the St Laurence's College students, making use of the FIFA-certified artificial football pitch at the college's South Brisbane campus.
St Laurence's College principal Chris Leadbetter told ABC Radio Brisbane the partnership had been in the works for some time, and he had struggled to not tell the students the exciting news.
"They'll implement a program in Year 5 to 7, it will be within the curriculum and also outside school hours," Mr Leadbetter said.
"In Year 8 to Year 12 it will be a co-curriculum program, so before and after school, at our fields at the school or at our fields at Runcorn.
"So we're very excited."
While participation in the program is only open to St Laurence College students, budding soccer players from other schools will have the opportunity to participate in school holiday clinics.
"We are offering the program outside the school for next year and the year after, and there's an information session at the college on September 7, to talk about the program," Mr Leadbetter said.
The managing director of Football Education and Recreation for City Football Group Jorgina Busquets said it was a pleasure to bring the coaching philosophy and methodology of Manchester City to St Laurence's College.
"As an organisation we have a defined and innovative style when it comes to playing football and ensure that fun and development are intertwined as part of the experience," she said.
