DAVE Hockaday has labelled his Football Academy as the place to be as they got pre-season training underway this week.

The former Swindon Town legend has set-up the David Hockaday Football Academy, based at the Swindome at Swindon Supermarine, with students registered with Swindon Academy.

With players set for full-time training, games against professional football clubs and full-time education, the former Leeds United and Forest Green Rovers chief is confident that he will be able to get the best out of his young recruits.

And while Hockaday has big plans for the future, which includes setting up a development team at Supermarine to play in the Hellenic League, he is still looking for one or two more players to join his academy.

“Next season – 2017-18 – we will start like the professionals on July 1, but this year, because of the timescale and the arrangements with Swindon Academy and my education providers, we are a little bit behind schedule,” Hockaday said.

“This year, we are U17s. As and when we are ready, we will start to play pro teams in friendlies.

“This year is about setting down markers. I have got a group of lads – I need one or two more.

“Our job is to replicate what the pro clubs do. Football-wise, we will be doing everything that a pro club does, and on top of that, there will be full-time education.

“It is not for the feint-hearted. It is tough but it will be the best two years of their lives. They will get some great exposure – I will get the best out of them.”

For more information, contact the Hockaday Academy on 07944 635985 or email info@dhfa.co.uk