The Northampton Saints Academy has partnered with Wellingborough School to provide some of the most promising young players in the East Midlands with the training facilities they need to develop successfully.
Wellingborough School has been chosen by the club as one of the venues for its Developing Player Programme, as well as a training base for the Saints' Under-18 squad.
The alma mater of Saints first teamers – and Academy graduates – Alex and Ethan Waller, Wellingborough School has invested significantly in its sporting facilities, which include five full-size pitches, one of which is floodlit, a further floodlit training area, and an extensive gym for strength and conditioning sessions.
Recruitment and Academy manager Dusty Hare said that the partnership with Wellingborough School gives the club an excellent facility at its disposal within easy reach of the whole Academy region.
“To help us develop our young players we need outstanding facilities across a wide area, and Wellingborough School provides us with exactly that,” he said. “The school takes pride in its sport, and the standard of its facilities reflect the investment that has been made. Our Developing Player Programme bases need to be within easy reach of the players who have been selected, and Wellingborough meets that criteria, too.
“The school's staff have been very proactive, helpful, and understanding of our needs, and we look forward to this partnership developing further in the future.”
“We are continually striving to develop and maintain relationships in the local community and the partnership with Northampton Saints is something that holds great benefit for all parties,” said Lee Hilton, director of sport at Wellingborough School. “To be associated with a club of the Saints calibre is something that we take great pride in and we will aim to grow the relationship year-on-year.
“Having hosted the Saints Academy last season, we are delighted to welcome the DPP squads to the School. We look forward to working together in providing more opportunities for youngsters, using our fabulous facilities, with the aim of producing yet more Saints stars of the future.”
