Pompey-Guernseyman David Waterman. (0809400)

THE Guernsey Football Association has teamed up with Premiership pro club Portsmouth to develop the GFA’s Centre of Excellence for young players.

The formal link with the pro club will see local coaches paid and developed by Portsmouth, who will also fund the centre and send their coaches over on regular trips to see the best of the island’s youngsters.

As a result of the partnership, the centre will expand from its current under 12-14 age group to work with youngsters aged from just six years.

From September, Portsmouth’s Youth Academy will run three separate age groups, under 6 to under 8; under 9 to under 11; and under 12 to under 14.

Guernsey football development officer Paul Mooney made the approach to Portsmouth, having got the self-funded centre off the ground last season, with interest from other pro clubs.

Mooney believes that the new partnership will produce better local coaches and players, who may even attract the interest of the Portsmouth Academy system.

‘Our aim is eventually to produce high-calibre players who can not only cope with, but also enhance, Pompey’s Academy,’ said Mooney.

Paul Barton, Portsmouth’s development centre manager, visited Guernsey in February in the early stages of discussions.