The Aberdeen Football Club Youth Academy received a huge boost with the announcement that the Club had entered into a strategic partnership with Norwegian energy firm Statoil to further enhance the work being undertaken across its Youth Development programmes.
Statoil is now the exclusive Aberdeen Football Club 'Talent Partner' with the emphasis specifically on the future development of elite youth players through the AFC Youth Academy. The Statoil “Heroes of Tomorrow” sponsorship concept supports talented young people, not just in sport but also in culture and education to help them achieve their ambitions
The Statoil Young Talent and Talent of the Month awards are awarded to players who show an exceptionally high standard of talent during academy training sessions and matches at club and international level and for the month of February this was awarded to Nimi Faleye who received the Young Talent of the Month and Connor McLennan who won the Talent of the Month.
11 year old Nimi Faleye who attends Dyce Primary School, has been a consistently high performer in the Junior Academy which has seen him selected for all four Advanced Academy Sessions this season and on numerous occasions has been selected to play matches for the U12 squad even though he is an U11 squad member. Gavin Levey, Head of Junior Academy says that “Nimi has shown a fantastic level of professionalism for such a young player since joining the Academy in the summer and consistently works hard in training and in matches. He is a worthy winner of the Statoil Young Talent of the Month award for February”
February’s Talent of the Month Award went to Connor McLennan from the U17 squad. Connor, from Peterhead Academy, has made regular appearances for Scotland over the past couple of years, and last month was selected to represent both the U16 and U17 National squads and scored a goal in the U17 International Challenge Match against Romania on 24th February. Connor joined the Academy in 2009 at U11’s, and has been one of the outstanding players throughout his years in the Academy. Senior Youth Academy Coach, Scott Anderson, said “Connor getting called up to the U17 National squad to play a year above was a great achievement. Connor has been performing well for the U17s this season and we hope that his success continues at National and Academy level.”
February’s Talent of the Month Award went to Connor McLennan from the U17 squad. Connor, from Peterhead Academy, has made regular appearances for Scotland over the past couple of years, and last month was selected to represent both the U16 and U17 National squads and scored a goal in the U17 International Challenge Match against Romania on 24th February. Connor joined the Academy in 2009 at U11’s, and has been one of the outstanding players throughout his years in the Academy. Senior Youth Academy Coach, Scott Anderson, said “Connor getting called up to the U17 National squad to play a year above was a great achievement. Connor has been performing well for the U17s this season and we hope that his success continues at National and Academy level.”
