OAKLANDS College student James Archer can relax this Christmas safe in the knowledge that his football career is on the up.

The talented centre midfielder is currently in his second year at the Oaklands & St Albans City Football Club (SACFC) Academy and has been playing in the reserve team.

His debut for the first team was at the beginning of the season against Bath City.

The 18-year-old, who lives in Hemel Hempstead, said: "I am very happy to be playing with the first team.

"Since I joined the academy and began studying at Oaklands, my game has really improved. It's great that we train every day with top coaches and I get to study for a qualification that interests me and is relevant to football."

Through the Oaklands & SACFC Academy, young men aged 16 to 19 combine high level football coaching with expert college tuition at the college's Smallford Campus, in St Albans.

Students accepted on the programme spend 12 to 15 hours a week studying for either a BTEC First Diploma in Sport or a National Certificate/Diploma in Sport and Exercise.

Steve Castle, Director of SACFC's youth academy, said: "James has performed extremely well throughout his time at the academy.

"He has a great deal of natural ability and has benefited from having the regular training and coaching that the academy provides.

"A number of the academy students that are also in James' year are proving themselves to be promising players.

"They are working hard and have a great attitude to the game and their studies. I'm expecting to see each of these lads progressing well as a result of studying at the academy."

James is looking forward to playing a full season with the first team and dreams of ally play football professionally.

He added: "The great thing about having studied at the academy is that if things do not go according to plan and playing football professionally is not an option for me, I can always use the BTEC qualification to progress onto university to study Sports Therapy."

To gain a place on the course, students have to prove they have the necessary football skills and prove they are committed to the academic side of the programme.

For further information on the academy call 01727 737080 or visit www.oaklands.ac.uk