MK Dons SET to operate Emerging Talent Centre
The FA have awarded MK Dons Sport & Education Trust (SET) a license to operate an Emerging Talent Centre (ETC) for girls within the city of Milton Keynes.
This will be MK Dons SET’s first year running the centre, which has already seen many successes. The sessions have already reached the maximum capacity of girls participating in training sessions and there has been further demand for players wanting to join the ETC. the interest is only a good thing for women’s football in Milton Keynes as Girls Football Development Officer, Rhianne Rush, noted: ‘it is amazing to see so many girls keen to advance their footballing ability.’
By increasing the number of footballing environments, MK Dons SET can support young female players transition from participation to excellence level with the eventual goal of playing here in the First Team!
The MK Dons ETC has recently gained the sponsor allowing players to have their own ETC kit. The MK Dons Emerging Talent Centre is proudly sponsored by Concept Clean. Concept Clean are a company based in Milton Keynes who looked to support women and girls football in Milton Keynes. They quickly wanted to contribute to the ETC programme, creating a smooth transition for the players into a new environment.
The funding from Concept Clean has allowed coaches to take a patient, holistic and individual approach in the development of players, whilst also considering the development of the ‘person’ which is equally important as the development of the player. The ETC programme enables coaches to focus on the individual needs of each player and sessions consider the four corners of a players development, technical, physical, psychological, and social.
The coaches keep an eye on players and their progress so that when it’s the right time, the players would train up with the Regional Talent Centre and potentially even get offered a spot in the girl’s academy. MK Dons girl’s and women’s pathways has been the strongest and most successful it’s been in years!