The Aberdeen Football Club Youth Academy received a huge boost recently 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 Junior and Youth Academy.   As part of the partnership each month the club will award a ‘Young Talent and Talent of the Month prize’ to a player from the Junior Academy and the Youth Academy. The inaugural winners of the Young Talent of the Month for January 2015 were Kevin Hanratty (U12) and Sebastian Ross (U15).   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. Kevin Hanratty, who attends Tullos Primary School, has demonstrated a consistently high level of talent and determination since joining the Youth Academy last season from Dee Boys Club.  Gavin Levey, Head of Junior Academy says that “Kevin has applied himself in an exceptional manner and is showing a real willingness to learn, which has seen him promoted to the older age groups for matches”. Sebastian Ross joined the Academy at 9 years of age and has been one of the outstanding talents throughout his years in the Youth Academy.  Sebastian, who attends the SFA Performance School at Hazelhead, was a regular at Scottish Regional Squad training camps last year, and this year has made the successful jump into the Scotland U15 squad. He will be heading out to Qatar from the 15th to 19th of February participate in the Tri-Series Tournament at the Aspire Academy.  Head of Youth Neil Simpson, believes that Sebastian’s hard work is paying off “Seb shows great enthusiasm at training and games, and his hard work is paying off which is reflected in his recognition at international level and call up to the Scotland U15 squad.”   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.

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 Junior and Youth Academy.   As part of the partnership each month the club will award a ‘Young Talent and Talent of the Month prize’ to a player from the Junior Academy and the Youth Academy. The inaugural winners of the Young Talent of the Month for January 2015 were Kevin Hanratty (U12) and Sebastian Ross (U15).   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. Kevin Hanratty, who attends Tullos Primary School, has demonstrated a consistently high level of talent and determination since joining the Youth Academy last season from Dee Boys Club.  Gavin Levey, Head of Junior Academy says that “Kevin has applied himself in an exceptional manner and is showing a real willingness to learn, which has seen him promoted to the older age groups for matches”. Sebastian Ross joined the Academy at 9 years of age and has been one of the outstanding talents throughout his years in the Youth Academy.  Sebastian, who attends the SFA Performance School at Hazelhead, was a regular at Scottish Regional Squad training camps last year, and this year has made the successful jump into the Scotland U15 squad. He will be heading out to Qatar from the 15th to 19th of February participate in the Tri-Series Tournament at the Aspire Academy.  Head of Youth Neil Simpson, believes that Sebastian’s hard work is paying off “Seb shows great enthusiasm at training and games, and his hard work is paying off which is reflected in his recognition at international level and call up to the Scotland U15 squad.”   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.