BASINGSTOKE TOWN have confirmed they will partner with Championship club Queens Park Rangers from next season.
The Dragons, who will be playing in the Ryman Premier next term, will take on QPR academy and development teams throughout the 2016-17 campaign in exhibition games.
Off the field, QPR coaching staff will be visiting the Camrose and there will also be a coach education programme put in place for Basingstoke’s coaches.
The partnership will see a recruitment drive in the area with ‘Talent ID’ days planned and also a community project to involve as many players as possible.
The link-up is a boost for Basingstoke after they announced earlier this week they would be turning to a full-time playing model next season, focusing on players released from pro clubs.
Basingstoke’s youth department manager Adam Clark said: “This is great news for the football club. The players and staff will see great reward from having such an exclusive partnership in place.
“As well as giving the players these great opportunities, the coaches will be able to work alongside coaches from a category 2 academy. There are a lot of football centres in the area that run under certain clubs and it’s great that Basingstoke Town can now have a Championship side working in partnership with them.”
Glenn Tuffin, foundation phase scout coordinator at QPR, added: “I’m delighted to get a club like Basingstoke Town on board, they have a great set up and we are happy they believe in what we are doing at QPR.
“With the emphasis on home grown players ever present in modern day football it’s important for us to form these partnerships and help out clubs like Basingstoke Town in producing local talent.”
