Professional football players Sam Vokes and Michael Duff, from Premiership Team Burnley FC, visited Nelson and Colne College Sixth Form on GCSE Results Day to officially open its brand new, high-tech, all-weather sports pitch!

Nelson and Colne College Sixth Form has as outstanding reputation for Sport and is excited to be unveiling new sports facilities, fit for a premier league team! In addition to a new, enlarged gym and improved changing facilities, extensive funding has allowed the College to build a new, high-tech, all-weather sports pitch and multi-use games area.

The College has excellent links with Burnley FC and was thrilled when two star players, Sam Vokes and Michael Duff, offered to come along to officially open the new facilities and sign some footballs for eager Academy players!

Sport and PE students, as well as those who are keen sportsmen and women in their spare time, will now benefit from these truly outstanding sports facilities. The Sport Department is also undergoing an exciting time, developing a career-focused curriculum which will see Vocational Sport students choose a preferred pathway aimed at their career aspirations.

In new developments to the curriculum, students can chose to study one of the following: Sports Development and Fitness, aimed at those wanting to work in community sport and gyms, Sports Physiology and Teaching for those who are aspiring physiotherapists and teachers, or Performance and Excellence in Coaching which is aimed at those wanting to work in elite sports coaching, especially football.

College Principal Amanda Melton said, “I was really excited to welcome players from our local Premiership Club and to officially open our fantastic new sports facilities. We already have brilliant Sports Academy teams for Football and Netball and our new pitch and multi-use games area will ensure they have the facilities to match their sporting ambitions! Special thanks must go to Sam Vokes and Michael Duff for coming along to help us celebrate.”

These outstanding sport facilities will be run by Pendle Leisure Trust and are available for local community hire. To enquire, please call 01282 661228