NSCG students help Leek Town U18s secure County Cup
26 March 2026
Leek Town Football Club’s Under 18s have been crowned Staffordshire FA County Youth Challenge Cup champions, with six players from the Leek Town FC Elite Football Academy playing a key role in the squad.
The Leek Town FC Elite Football Academy is a full-time, two-year programme delivered at NSCG Leek College in partnership with Leek Town FC. Combining high-level football coaching with the Level 3 Sport course, the programme is designed to support both athletic development and academic success.
On the day, the team secured an impressive 4–0 victory against Abbey Hulton United at Stafford Town FC’s Evans Park ground.
Among those representing the Academy were NSCG Leek College Level 3 Sport students Jack Fradley, Reuben Pointon, Lennon Hill, Oscar Tilley, Ashton Callear and Archie Mycock. Reuben Pointon was named Player of the Match after an outstanding display, scoring a hat-trick and providing an assist.
The team now looks ahead to their next fixture away in Nuneaton. A win would take them one step closer to securing the Association of Colleges West Midlands Tier 3 League title, with the side currently sitting six points clear at the top of the table with five games remaining.
Mat Knight-Burton from Leek Town FC said: “We have a great group here, studying their Level 3 whilst also competing on the field. The squad have gone from strength to strength this year and that is really showing on the pitch. Many of these Under 18's players are already representing Leek Town FC in our adult pathway, playing for the U18's, the men's development squad and some of them have appeared in first team match days squads.
“Notably Reuben Pointon and Ashton Callear who have both had a taste of what it is like to be a semi-professional footballer at step 3. We are aiming to win the league this year, which would be an incredible achievement for a course which is still really in its infancy, the students have been a pleasure to work with and hopefully those leaving us this year for university can leave a legacy behind as AOC West Midlands Regional league champions.”