AFC Totton have teamed up with the BRS Coaching Academy to strengthen their presence in Dorset and to further develop their player recruitment network.

With development centres based at Bournemouth University’s Chapel Gate complex in Christchurch and in Ringwood, the mission of BRS Coaching Academy is to ensure that every player in their system leaves BRS as a better football player – and, more importantly, a better person – to when they first joined.

Accepting children as young as four years-old, the Academy provides access to fully and highly-qualified coaches whose brief includes identifying talent for promotion to the BRS Advanced Centre, then potentially to their Junior Premier League (JPL) squads, which are designed for those players who stand out by showing a great attitude to learning and a positive work ethic.

They have helped more than 200 children to gain places within the Pre-Academies at AFC Bournemouth, Chelsea, Southampton, Portsmouth, Exeter City, Yeovil Town and Swindon Town.

The new partnership with AFC Totton will mean that when the young players at BRS reach sixth form education, they will have the option of enrolling on one of two BTEC Level 3 extended diploma courses on offer with the Hampshire-based club.

Boys aged 16-19 attend educational classes and practical football training sessions at The Stags’ Snows Stadium complex on Salisbury Road to study the extended diploma in sport development and coaching and the extended diploma in sport, fitness and personal training.

Totton manager and academy director Jimmy Ball said: “We have to make everything we do ‘elite’, offering potential pathways to a high standard of football – not necessarily just at the professional level, but at the highest levels of non-league, too.

“To achieve that, we have to instil within the kids a clear understanding that they’re not here for a kickabout or for an easy option that will allow them to mess around. They have to be here for the right reasons."