During August 2006 a group of invited 12 year old boys and their parents attended a meeting held in a function room at Westcombe Park RFC. The meeting had been called by Mike Delaney and Micheal Rogers to address frustrations at the structure and failings of youth football for talented individuals and to offer an initiative that would attempt to address and rebalance these failings.

The majority of the lads at the meeting had attended the Skills Academy sessions from 9 years old and had, purely by chance found themselves attending Warren Road Primary School in Green Street Green.

Under Mikes tutorship the Warren Road team won every league, cup and tournament fixture in which they competed. It was clear even at this tender age that here was a unique group of talented individuals bought together by chance and circumstance.

When it came to trialling for the u11's Orpington School District representative squad seven of the Warren Road lads made it into the starting line up.

The Orpington District squad went on to represent Kent in county finals and ultimately to win the competition.

During the Westcombe Park meeting Mike Delaney offered his support and guidance to the assembled players for whatever period time it would take for them to realise their footballing potential. This might be weeks, months or years, whatever the period of time, Mike would be there to offer guidance and support.

The Skills Academy School of Excellence was formed.

In the summer of 2007 Micheal Rogers contacted Crockenhill FC's chairman, Steve Cullen and invited him to attend a Skills Academy School of Excellence training session and proposed that the Skills Academy School of Excellence be allowed to represent Crockenhill FC in the Kent Youth League at u15's level during the 08/09 season.

This was agreed and it is with great pleasure that the Skills Academy School of Excellence will be the feeder team for the Crockenhill FC 93 squad.

During this period the Academy also expanded the group of School of excellence players to include a second group of talented individuals born during 95/96 at u13's level. Skills Academy School of Excellence coach Marc Cumberbatch regularly trains this second group and everyone at the Skills Academy School of Excellence is excited at the potential within this new group.


Of the original group of seven district players, three remain at the School of Excellence and these three have been joined by a group of equally talented individuals all benefiting from Mike's patient coaching methods. The Crockenhill FC coaching team has been expanded to include a dedicated Goal Keeping Coach, Mick Strain and Assistant Manager / Coach, Richard Percy.

We are all excited by the prospect of the union between the Skills Academy School of Excellence and Crockenhill FC and expect great things in the foreseeable future.