Wingate and Finchley are holding their annual Open Day to find the top talent for the new intake to their Football Learning Excellence, or ‘FLEX’ Scheme.

The club are recruiting boys aged 16-18 to join up to the programme in time for the start of the 2009/10 season.

The joint venture with educational partner Barnet College has so far been a resounding success and has given this year’s squad the fantastic opportunity to move up into the club’s Capital League team.

Many have so far made this achievable step, and are well on the way to realising the potential of becoming a member of Wingate and Finchley’s high-flying first team. Each member of the scheme will also receive a qualification awarded by Barnet College, so FLEX also represents a rather unique way of gaining further qualifications whilst developing your football.

The scheme is run by Richard Marchena and club captain Marvin Samuels, both of whom will be on hand at the open day on January 24 to answer any questions from potential players and parents.

Several current members of this seasons’ inaugural FLEX Scheme squad will also be available explain their experiences and successes before all prospective players are given a coaching session.

The club’s Vice-Chairman David Thrilling is excited by the way the FLEX Scheme has worked in its first season and sees it playing a major role in the Ryman League club’s future.

He said: “The FLEX scheme offers an excellent pathway for young people to develop their football skills and education in a harmonious environment. The club has developed in a variety of ways in the last 18 months and the FLEX scheme is a key part of our future growth and desire to become a true community club.

“Our Head of Youth Development and First Team Captain provide a first-class coaching set up for students, also allowing them the perfect opportunity to impress and break into the First Team.

“We hope to have state of the art facilities including classrooms on site in the very near future, which can only enhance the scheme in the coming years. Several of the boys this year have represented our Capital League Team and have been inspired onto bigger and better things by the tremendous progress of our First Team. These truly are exciting times at Wingate & Finchley”

The afternoon of events kicks-off at 1pm and includes entrance to the Ryman Division One North encounter between Wingate & Finchley and East Thurrock. Afterwards there will be a further opportunity to meet club chairman Aron Sharpe and the club’s first team coaching staff led by manager Michael Stone.

Anybody wishing to find out more should contact Assistant Club Secretary Ricky Deller on 07725 984 595 or e-mail him at ricky.deller@soccerkits.com