The FC Nelson Academy delivers football development programme that plays a crucial part in the player development structure of the club.
Led by our qualified FCN Academy coaches we set out to create a highly competitive and challenging environment for our players to grow, develop and learn.
Our curriculum is aligned not only with NZ football but also incorporates specific key aspects of our very own FC NELSON WAY of playing football.
The playing philosophy, which sits at the core of our FCNA programme, has been developed under the NZ football TDP* guidelines in conjunction with core values and principles of the club and our high performance environment led by our Director of Football/1st team coach Davor Tavich, Football Development Officer Manuel Montagna and Development team coch Paul Brydon.
Our academy teams are on an aligned pathway, which ensures continuity throughout the development of the players. Coaches use similar terminology and speak with the same voice. Players are able to move between training squads seemingly without any problems.
The aim is to continue and accelerate the development of our young footballers and to prepare them for the performance phase of their development when they will be required to perform in a competitive environment.
The programme is aligned with our two pinnacle teams Men/Women 1st XI as well as the respective Development teams and allows players (U16) to slide into the Senior environment when prepared and ready.
Academy teams will be given several opportunities to represent the club on different occasions, i.e. Christchurch International Cup (or similar), tours to Wellington, Christchurch or Auckland, South Island Championships, other tournaments.
*TDP - talent development programme
FC NELSON ACADEMY 2026 TRIALS:
Trials for our FCN Academy are coming up... these trials are open to everyone interested in playing for one of our academy teams.
Trials: 4.00pm - 5.30pm
U13 - Wednesday 26th November & Wednesday 3rd December
U14, U15, U16 - Tuesday 25th November & Tuesday 2nd December
Squad selection will be notified by Sunday 7th December.
2026 ACADEMY STRUCTURE AND COACHES:
U13 (born 2013)
Coach - Darryn Williams
U14 (born 2012)
Coach - Manuel Montagna
U15 (born 2011)
Coach - Kris Main
U16 (born 2010)
Coach - Alberto Fernandez Ortiz
The FC Nelson Academy runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays - 4.00-5.30pm at Neale Park.
TERMS 1 to 3 - 2 days per week - Tuesday and Thursday
TERM 4 - 1 day per week - Tuesday
AGES - U13, U14, U15, U16
TERM ONE (two days per week - Tues, Thurs):
Start: Tuesday 10th February
End: Thursday 2nd April
TERM TWO (two days per week - Tues, Thurs):
Start: Tuesday 21st April
End: Thursday 2nd July
TERM THREE (two days per week - Tues, Thurs):
Start: Tuesday 21st July
End: Thursday 24th September
TERM FOUR (one day per week - Tues):
Start: Tuesday 13th October
End: Tuesday 17th December
Note: There is no training on public holidays
Times: All Grades - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm
Venue: Neale Park
Fee: $190 per Term (Terms 1-3),
$115 per Term (Term 4)
Registration: Fill in the form below to register for the current term
Players will need the following items:
PAYMENT:
Places are not confirmed until payment is made.Please pay through stripe using the Registration Link
NOTES:
Training squads are selected. Players that want to join later in the year will be given the chance to come in for a few training sessions and trial for a spot in the academy.
Players not selected initially will receive feedback, support and will be monitored going forward.
Note - Selection is based on general ability but even more so on attitude!
** The academy is open for both boys and girls. So we encourage especially interested girls to come down to training. If we end up with sufficient numbers to create a girls only training squad, we will. Otherwise selected girls will train with the boys.
Sessions can be normal “on grass” sessions, white board, video analysis, Strength and Conditioning, Yoga and/or games against other Academies. Some (additional) sessions will fall out of the usual Tues/Thurs schedule. We aim to communicate any changes to the schedule with enough notice.
We have established pathways and relationships that reach beyond FC Nelson, which allow players to take their football to the next level. Our key pathways are with Mainland Football, Christchurch United and Wellington Phoenix.
The FC Nelson Pre-Academy Centre 8-12yrs and our Junior Skillz/First Kicks/Fun Football are at the base of our Junior and Youth Development structure, which feeds into our Academy.
ACADEMY TEAM GAMES AND TOURNAMENTS IN 2026
We will look to send all of our Academy teams:
- on a pre-season exchange weekend to Christchurch United in Term 1
- to participate in the Christchurch International Cup in July school holidays
- to participate in the South Island Championships in September school holidays (with the exception of our U15 Academy team who we will look to send to the Gold Coast Premier Invitational Tournament in September
- on a post-season exchange weekend to Christchurch United in Term 4
- to participate in 3 Academy exchange weekends with Marlborough and Nelson Suburbs
Any questions please contact our Foobtall Development Officer, Manuel Montagna - manuel@fcnelson.co.nz
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