BRIDGWATER United Football Club’s Academy programme got off to a flying start over the weekend, with a big turnout of nine- to 16-year-olds participating in the club’s inaugural Boys Youth Trials on Saturday at Bridgwater & Taunton College.

The Boys Academy will join the already established Girls Academy in competing in the Junior Premier League (JPL) from the start of the 2021/22 season.

With significant interest continuing, the club will shortly announce a second trial date to accommodate those on the waiting list.

You can sign up for the additional boys trials here.

Saturday also saw United’s Girls Under-16s welcome Tottenham Hotspur Women to Fairfax Park, for the first women’s match to be played at the ground since 2017.

Spurs opened up a two-goal lead but were overcome by a spirited United comeback, which earned them a well-deserved 4-2 victory and a second place finish in the JPL standings.

Bridgwater Mercury:

COMEBACK: Action from the Under-16s match at Fairfax Park

Bridgwater United chief operating officer Ewan Greenhill said: “The academy is paramount to the future of the club.

“We want to provide opportunities to progress and a standard of academy that aren’t found elsewhere within the region.

“Our ultimate vision for the academies is to see our women’s and men’s first teams filled with talent that have progressed through our academy pathway, and therefore a huge focus will be on our academy.”