A COLLEGE has joined forces with a football club in what is described as "a massive boost for the community in the Ribble Valley".

The three-year agreement between Burnley College Sixth Form and Clitheroe Wolves FC will see the club’s coaching team and players proudly display the College’s name on new clothing and training equipment.

The players will also have the opportunity to take part in strength and conditioning training at Fitness Evolution’s new Evolution Performance Centre, Burnley College’s award-winning on-site gym and fitness centre.

Clitheroe Wolves has more than 60 teams of players, ranging from the under-sevens to under-18s.

Ross Hibbert, chairman of Clitheroe Wolves, said there is a lot of support for the club within the community.

He said: “We’ve always had the support of our players’ parents and we’re always grateful for that.

"But to be able to work hand in hand with Burnley College is amazing.

“We now have more than 1,000 players and more than 60 teams so, to sign up with a professional and respected institution such as Burnley College is a massive boost.

“We’re really looking forward to coming in and training under the guidance of the experts at Fitness Evolution, using the same equipment on which top-level footballers and other athletes train.

”We’re looking forward to Clitheroe Wolves players enjoying the professional experience and seeing the results on the football pitch!”

Clitheroe Wolves FC was formed in 1992, initially comprising of just two teams playing in the Accrington Boys League and Burnley Youth.

The club has continued to grow over the years and now has several teams for each age group and girls’ teams.

Evolution Performance Centre, the new £2 million extension to Fitness Evolution, sees students, fitness trainers and elite athletes within the community given access to the latest sport and fitness technology, including a Cryotherapy Suite, Environmental Chamber and High Performance Gym.

Ashley Alderson, manager of Fitness Evolution, said: “We’re looking forward to working with the young footballers at Clitheroe Wolves, helping them to optimise their performance on the pitch through strength and conditioning training and focussed fitness plans.

“We hope that enjoying a taste of the fitness regimes and determination needed by professional footballers may inspire them to follow a career in Sport and Fitness – whether that’s as a professional athlete or in one of the many behind-the-scenes roles in this growth industry.”

The state-of-the-art facilities are said to "set Burnley College apart from the rest and ensure we’re a national beacon for sports and fitness excellence".