First star graduates to the pro game!

The NPL Football Academy's coaches and tutors are celebrating their first success story after Romulus star Yohan Rutty-Smith signed for Notts County.

After making history back in November as the first NPLFA student to play first team football for the First Division South's Roms, the 16-year-old has now become the first to progress to the professional game after signing for the League One club.

The left-back, pictured, signed a two year deal at Meadow Lane on Monday only five months after the NPLFA opened its doors to its first intake of students at five pilot clubs - Leek Town, Mickleover Sports, Newcastle Town, Radcliffe Borough and the Roms.

In doing so the EVO-STIK NPL became the first league in English football to launch a youth league and academy combining football with further education. Since then, four more clubs have signed on to join next season, First Division North Mossley AFC the latest recruit in January.

Hailing the production of their first graduate to the professional ranks so quickly after the NPLFA's foundation, a spokesman said: "We are delighted at this news and very proud. Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine we would get our first professional graduate five months into the programme which just shows how successful it has been in it's short time.

"Our aim first and foremost is to give our students the best educational package available to enable them to have a successful working career and we are also committed with our expertise to producing young footballers. Firstly for the first teams of the clubs involved but also to give those youngsters a second chance or even their first chance of becoming a professional footballer.

"Credit must go to Richard Evans and his staff at Romulus FC who are running a very successful programme there as shown in their educational and football results. It's another player to come through the system at The Roms and they are obviously delighted and proud of young Yohan."

He added: "Everyone at the NPL Football Academy wishes Yohan the best of luck in his professional career and hopes he can continue his studies that he has worked hard for so far this season."

A proud Romulus spokesman added: "The academy is gutted to lose such a great young talent, but, on the other hand and more importantly, we are all delighted that he has been given this fantastic opportunity with professional outfit Notts County."

Hopefully he can progress further with us.

Building for the future, good news. Very little risk here!

Promising. Has he signed to be a part of the first team, or academy? 

Promising. Has he signed to be a part of the first team, or academy? 

He's been offered a pro contract but he will be a youth team player, he will most likely be the defensive version of Colby Bishop next season. So Academy/Youth Team but with possible appearance depending how he does.

building for the future is good, as is expanding the net where we pull players from. hope he makes his way into our squad!

Played in the last two youth games - looks a smashing prospect - and scored a cracker on Saturday.

Played in the last two youth games - looks a smashing prospect - and scored a cracker on Saturday.

Good enough to push into the first team this/next year?

I think with the set up we have now, when they are good enough, they will be in...

I think with the set up we have now, when they are good enough, they will be in...

Not always the case. Curtis Thompson would have most likely been looking at getting released if it wasn't for his form in CM due to Noble's constant suspensions. 

He was given his chance, and took it... that is up to the players themselves...

He was given his chance, and took it... that is up to the players themselves...

Indeed, but if they don't get the chance, in the right positions....

Curtis Thompson is a grand player but the over hyping is becoming strange. Not that long ago he was up for release.

Glad this Yohan is doing well too tho.

Perhaps he Hype is warranted though.

 

I believe he's sepped it up a notch since he new Year.