Paxton's England call part of college's success

NORTH Devon College student Stan Paxton is in line for a huge national honour.

The 17-year-old is one of just 33 players across the country invited to train with the England Colleges football team.

Paxton has already emerged as an important player for Barnstaple Town in the Toolstation Western League this season.

Now, after impressing at trials, he will train with the provisional England squad at Lilleshall this month.

Training matches are due to take place on December 13 and 14 when Paxton will be looking to secure a place in the final squad.

The striker's call-up has highlighted a vintage year of sporting success for North Devon College.

Across a range of sports the college is gaining a reputation for excellent displays at regional and national level.

In the new year the women's volleyball team will represent the South West in the final of a national tournament at Loughborough University.

Coached by England international Denise Austin, the team won the South West Championships at Weymouth having entered the competition for the first time.

Rebecca Manley and Sarah Edwards are both in the South West Colleges netball squad, while Winston James, Jack Sharpe, Dominic Heap and Declan Marshall have gained the same honour at rugby.

Fellow students Hannah Wilkinson and Zara Turner have been nominated for trials with the England Colleges women's rugby side.

The men's basketball team are currently undefeated in the South West Colleges Performance League and the women's netball side were runners-up in the South West Championships.

It's an impressive list of achievements, but why is the college suddenly competing at a high level across a range of sports?

According to the programme leader for sports and performance, Nathan Kelly, it is due several factors.

"We seem to have a talented crop of student athletes and that's testament to the work they have done before they get to college," he said. "The work that goes on in communities and schools means they are good athletes when they arrive.

"But it's also testament to the academy programmes we have and the coaching.

"The academies have grown in popularity and more prospective students are coming to us enquiring about them."

Kelly believes the college provides an all-round sports education for its academy members.

"We are keen to impress on the students that when they come to us they are not just here to play football or rugby, they are here to develop as an athlete.

"Part of that is improving things like tactical awareness, so they'll do video analysis of fixtures.

"Also they are all involved in strength and conditioning programmes to improve their athleticism.

"Hopefully we are producing athletic sports people rather than pigeon-holing people into sports and focusing on one aspect of performance."

Key to that aim is the work of sports therapist Rebecca Ruff, who is at the college every Thursday to treat injuries after Wednesday afternoon fixtures. Ruff, a former North Devon College student, also works with academy teams on match-days to provide physio and first aid.

"In the past we have had really good training programmes but when a student has become injured we haven't had the expertise to look at the injury and arrange some rehab," added Kelly.

"It was almost like saying go away and we'll see you when you're fit again."

In an Olympic year, when the profile of sport has been raised, Kelly also believes students are more aware of the dedication needed to reach the top.

The achievements of Paxton and the women's volleyball team have been particularly pleasing for the college.

"For Stan to be selected as one of 33 players across the country is a huge achievement," said Kelly.

"It means a great deal because there's an awful lot of colleges within the British colleges network placing a lot of emphasis on their football development programmes.

"The volleyball academy is now in its second year at North Devon College. This is the first year we have entered a team into the divisional tournament and for them to go and win it is testament to all the hard work they've put in."