NULC make it to finals of Keele International Football Tournament

Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) in partnership with Newcastle Town Football Club entered two football teams into the Keele International Football Tournament held from Wednesday 25 July to Saturday 28 July 2012. 

The age groups competing were Under 16s which included students who will be starting at NULC in September and the current Under 18s squad. The competition brings together high quality squads from all over the world and included teams from North America, Europe, Canada, Africa and Ireland to list a few and was played on fantastic pitches at Keele University. 

The tournament in itself is a massive success year on year, and something that NULC and Newcastle Town FC were keen for their teams to do well in. That eagerness was certainly rewarded by some excellent performances, with players from all corners of North Staffordshire coming together to play and both Under 16s and Under 18s progressed out of the group stages into the semi-finals. 

The semi-finals were two hard fought contests with the Under 16s taking on the Isle of Man and Under 18s matching up against Norton JFC, from Birmingham. The Under 16s had to do it the hard way, with penalties in their favour of 5 to 4 seeing off some very strong opponents, while the Under 18s had to make hard work of their game going behind before beating their opponents to make the final by margins of 5-2.

The finals were evenly matched with the Under 16s narrowly losing to San Antonio Lions from the USA by 2 goals to nil and the Under 18s taking it to penalties in order to settle their final with Abbey Hey, from Manchester. The game had finished goalless, and after near misses, saves and spectacular finishes, the Abbey Hey goalkeeper was the hero as NULC fell 9 -8 on penalties at the final hurdle after a brave effort. 

All in all the two teams were a credit to the College and all augurs well for future football at NULC.

To find out more about the NULC Football Academy click here or contact the Academy of Sport on 01782 254269 or email sport@nulc.ac.uk.

Olympic Torch honour for NULC student

NULC student James Taylor carried the Olympic Torch through London yesterday.

James Taylor, aged 17 from Stoke, studies the Level 3Diploma in Sport Performance and Excellence at Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC).

During his time at NULC James was awarded Young Sports Personality of the Year in The Sentinel Sports Awards.  James reflects: “When I found out I had won, I was in Wales on a trip with College.  The College paid for my train back home so that I could attend the award which was brilliant. I was really impressed to have won against other local sports personalities. ”

Image from www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk.

 James has an impressive sporting record dating back to 2009, which includes:  English School’s Winner in 2009, indoor and outdoor national winner 2009 and number one in the UK in 2009. Indoor national champion 2010 and number 1 indoor champion in the UK.

During the past year James has increased his medal haul with various accolades including; Midlands Youth Champion where he sped to a clear victory in the under-17’s 100m hurdles in 13.37 seconds.  Collected relay silver in the 4x100m sprint at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Turkey, Under 18’s 110m number one in the UK in 2011 and won Gold in the 110m Hurdles at the British Colleges Sport (BCS) National Athletics Championships held in Gateshead in June 2012.

To read the full story about James carrying the Olympic Torch click here.

Local adults invited to sign up for new university-level course in Sport

People interested in working in the Sports and Fitness industries are being encouraged to apply for a brand new course.

Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) is offering the Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Sport, Health and Fitness from September 2012, in partnership with Staffordshire University.

The course is aimed at people aged 18 and over who currently hold a Level 3 qualification in a sport-related subject or have relevant work experience.

The course will be taught part-time over a two year period on a Tuesday evening from 3pm – 9pm, allowing students to fit studying around their work or family commitments.

Shelley Brown, Curriculum Manager for Sport at NULC, said: “The new HNC in Sport will give students of all ages the opportunity to gain a university-level qualification to further improve their prospects and boost their earning potential.”

Lessons will be based in the University Centre at the College’s main campus, which provides dedicated areas for adult students.

The course will cover a number of units including Anatomy and Physiology, Training and Fitness for Sport and Exercise, Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Wellbeing, Health Promotion, Sport Psychology, Fitness Testing, Sports Massage and Exercise Promotion.

Shelley added: “The course is assessed through assignments and practical assessments, meaning there are no formal exams at the end of the year. This makes the course even more accessible to adults who are sometimes put off higher education because of exams.”

The College has an outstanding reputation for its sports provision, including the £6 million Gordon Banks Sports Centre and award-winning Academy of Sport. In addition, the College was recently named West Midlands Sports College of the Year at the British Colleges Sport AGM.

Tuition fee loans are available for part-time students from August 2012. Furthermore, applicants can benefit from a £250 discount on the course fee if they enrol before 31 August 2012.

To find out more about the range of university-level courses on offer at NULC contact the Information Point on 01782 254254, email info@nulc.ac.uk or visit www.nulc.ac.uk/he

Sporting students present cheque to Gordon Banks

Students from Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) presented Gordon Banks OBE with a cheque for over £1,000 this week.

Staff and students from the College’s award-winning Academy of Sport raised money for Gordon Banks’ chosen charity – the Alzheimer’s Society – by hosting a charity football match.

The match, which took place at the Britannia Stadium in May, was a roaring success with the teams being managed by World Cup legend Gordon Banks and Stoke City FC Director of Football, John Rudge.

Trevor Humphrey’s Academy of Sport Manager, Gordon Banks OBE, Pat Bentley from the Alzheimer’s Society, Dave Sutton NULC Football Academy Co-ordinator and NULC students Emily Harvey and Liam Chadwick.

Trevor Humphreys, Academy of Sport Manager at NULC, said: “The money raised for Alzheimer’s Society shows the generosity of staff and students at NULC. The match was obviously a lot of fun for all involved, but we also achieved our aim of giving back to the community by raising a huge amount of money.”

Gordon is patron of Alzheimer's Society's North Staffordshire services. His brother suffered from Alzheimer’s and sadly passed away earlier this year.

Gordon said: “I understand how isolating Alzheimer's can be. My brother had it for 10 years and it’s really very sad, especially when you remember the person they used to be. For their partner, the person that looks after them, it's like a prison sentence. You can't get away from it. I got involved with the Society because I wanted to help and I want all football fans to do the same.”

 

Through sponsorship and collections the students raised £1340.97, which was presented to Gordon Banks and Pat Bentley from the Alzheimer’s Society on Monday 16 July, at the College’s Knutton Lane campus, by Academy of Sport students Emily Harvey and Liam Chadwick.

Goal-keeper Emily, who has recently been signed to Stoke City Ladies under 18’s team, also took the opportunity to get some tips from Gordon Banks, who was delighted to see Emily selected for the squad.

Trevor added: “This was the first time we hosted such an event, but after the success we are already planning the next match to take place next year. It’s a great way to reward students and staff at the end of the academic year and also to say thank you to Gordon Banks for all his support at the College.”

To find out more about the NULC Academy of Sport visit www.nulc.ac.uk/sport or contact Trevor Humphreys on 01782 254269 or email sport@nulc.ac.uk.

In the spotlight with... Sherry McCue

Sherry McCue, aged 17 from Market Drayton studies the Level3 BTEC Diploma in Sport Performance and Excellence at Newcastle-under-LymeCollege (NULC).

Sherry plays for Aston Villa and England U18’s teams and demonstrates huge potential in this area, aspiring to be a professional footballer. Sherry will also be representing her country at football this summer in the U19’s European Championships.

With a number of extra curricular commitments Sherry is busy both on and off the pitch: “When I go away on England duty, the staff at NULC are very supportive and give me extra support with my assignments, meaning I don’t fall behind with my course.” explains Sherry.

Shelly Brown, Curriculum Manager for Sport at NULC said: “Sherry works hard academically and achieves grades above her target.  This is difficult while playing the amount of football that Sherry does but she never fails to give 100% both on and off the pitch.”

Sherry is target to achieve the triple distinction star in her qualification and plans to pursue a career as a professional footballer.

To find out more about studying Sport at NULC click here or contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or info@nulc.ac.uk. 

NULC Celebration Event 2012

NULC hosted it's first Celebration Event on Wednesday 27 June.  The event brought together a wide range of learners from across the College in order to celebrate their achievements over the past academic year. 

Awards were given in 11 different categories which recognised academic achievement, personal achievement, services to the College and the community as well as sporting success. 

Award winners from NULC Sport department

Award winners from NULC Sport department (left to right). 

• Adam Whitmore - Services to the College
• Anthony Walton - Sport Lecturer and Adams tutor
• Shelley Brown - Curriculum Manager for Sport and Paige’ tutor
• Paige Machin - Young Achiever of the Year

Each award winner received a unique trophy designed by a team of learners from our art and design courses and was made on College premises in the Engineering department. Award winners were joined by parents and guests to celebrate their achievements.     

To see the full gallery of images from the day visit our Facebook Page here.

VQ Day Celebrations with Ami Pickerill

 

Ami Pickerill, aged 18, from Alsager studies the Level 3Diploma in Sport Exercise and Science at Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC).

Ami is a highly capable student who has made excellent progress throughout the course, gaining impressive grades in every unit on the course.  Ami reflects on her time at NULC: “I chose to come to NULC because of the great reputation for the Academy of Sport.  I was able to study sport and play sport at a competitive level.”

Ami continues: “I like how the atmosphere is more relaxed at College than school and you’re treated like an adult by staff.  The staff are also really supportive allowing you the freedom to develop as a player. ”

“I’m also a member of the Colleges Elite Sports Programme, which means the college has helped me financially the cost of kit, travel and training.  The staff have always been really supportive when it comes to playing sport both for the college and outside of the college, meaning I’ve never fallen behind with my studies.”

Shelly Brown, Curriculum Manager for Sport at NULC said: “Ami is valued as a mature, sensible student with an impressive work ethic.  She is a calm and very thoughtful student who is always able to take a momentary step back to assess a situation and then deal with it in a very mature, objective and precise way.  She has never given anything but her best throughout the time she has been at the college.”

Ami is a member of the NULCNetball Academy; she also competes at regional standard within netball, and has attended England training camps.  In 2012 Ami was selected for the England U19’s Netball Europe Squad and the British Colleges Sport (BCS) England Netball Squad where she has had the opportunity to compete throughout Europe.

To find out more about studying Sport at NULC click here or contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or info@nulc.ac.uk. 

To see the full gallery of images from VQ Day 2012 visit the NULC Facebook page here.

VQ Day celebrations with Josh Brown

 

Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) supported VQ Day by celebrating the success of its vocational students.

VQ Day, held on Wednesday 20 June 2012, was marked by a special celebration event at the College’s £60 million Knutton Lane campus. Students studying a Level 3 vocational qualification who have achieved triple distinction (equivalent to three As at A Level) will be recognised for their success along with a number of students who have achieved the new triple distinction star grade, which is equivalent to 3 A*’s at A Level.

At NULC, success rates on vocational courses are high across all areas of study. This year, over 100 students on BTEC National Diplomas are on target to achieve the top triple distinction grade (DDD) - equivalent to three grade As at A Level. In 2011, 313 students studying Level 3 Vocational qualifications and Apprenticeships progressed to higher education.

Josh Brown, aged 18 from Werrington is studying the Level 3Diploma is Sport Exercise and Science at Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC).

The former Moorside High School pupil achieved 14 GCSE’s and explains why he chose to come to NULC: “NULC has amazing sports facilities and the Academy of Sport enabled me to play football at a competitive level whilst also studying for a sports qualification.”

During his studies at NULC, Josh undertook a work placement with the NHS within the Physiotherapy department and obtained outstanding feedback: “Josh portrayed an excellent work ethic, subject knowledge and ability to work with both staff and patients in what was a very demanding environment.”

Whilst at NULC Josh has been awarded student of the month, represented the College Football team as captain, played in the British Colleges Sport (BCS) league and was selected for England Colleges U18 squad in 2012 where he played in a series of fixtures against other nations.  In addition Josh also plays locally for Newcastle Town U18’s and has recently broke into the reserve team. 

Josh is on course to achieve triple distinction star in his qualification and will progress on to university to study a degree in sport.

To find out more about studying Sport at NULC click here or contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or info@nulc.ac.uk.

NULC wins West Midlands College of the Year at Sport Awards

Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) is celebrating after being awarded West Midlands College of the Year in the recent British College Sport (BCS) Awards.

The College was awarded at a Gala Dinner held at Aston Business School Conference Centre in Birmingham, where colleges and young athletes from across the country came together to celebrate sporting achievements.

NULC was also shortlisted for the National College of the Year Award, which was devised to highlight the good practice in the Further Education sector, but was piped to the post by Gateshead College.

Trevor Humphreys, Academy of Sport Manager at NULC said: “This year NULC has worked hard to cement itself as one of the top further education providers for sport in the country.  No matter what you want to study at NULC you can combine it with top level coaching, competition and support to help you achieve your academic and sporting potential.”

The winners were selected from colleges nominated from around the country in recognition of their significant contributions to BCS in developing opportunities for students and staff through sport, developing college sport regionally or nationally, and working in partnership with other BCS member colleges locally, regionally, or nationally.

Since the formation of the NULC Academy of Sport the college, has in a very short time, established itself as a leader in sports provision amongst education providers both locally and nationally.  Notably the college formed the NULC Knights Basketball team which is the only club in the county to provide the opportunity to compete at national league level.  The college also works in partnership with Newcastle Town Football Club to provide a Football Academy.

This year in particular has seen phenomenal success for sport at NULC, with highlights including five members of the NULC Academy of Sport being selected to represent national teams in men’s and women’s football, netball and rugby and 17 students selected to represent regional teams in netball, rugby, hockey and men’s and women’s football.

A number of the Academy of Sport teams have competed in regional and national competitions including the ladies football, men’s basketball, netball, men’s volleyball, ladies volleyball, mixed volleyball, rugby and table tennis teams, with all teams making it through to either the finals or semi-finals. The College also had record success at the British Colleges National Cup Finals with a haul of gold and silver medals and three national champions. 

To find out more about studying Sport at Newcastle-under-Lyme College NULC visit www.nulc.ac.uk/sport or contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or info@nulc.ac.uk