It’s almost 60 years since a handful of Parade students, some of them Italian-born, persuaded the then Br Robinson to help them field the College’s first unofficial soccer team.

Those plucky boys could never have envisaged that Parade would one day become the Australian hub for English Premier League giant Manchester City, which is broadening its already substantial global reach as partner to the first football school in the country.

From next year, the Manchester City Football School at Parade College opens its doors to Year 7 students at both the Bundoora and Preston campuses. Through the school, the Manchester City Playbook will be applied in the students’ Physical Education (PE)/Physical and Health Education (PHE) lessons curriculum and football programs, “and to quote the blurb, “Parade College football teams will be coached how to play the Man City way”.

Under the arrangement, Parade will employ one of Manchester City’s coaches to be based at the College to oversee and support the program through a range of curriculum resources for the next six years – and utilise the first-class facilities of Parade, which include FIFA-accredited pitches, indoor alternatives and conditioning areas.

According to Andy, the course has already been rolled out in Egypt and India “and will be a real force for improving football in the world . . . and for our boys it will create a pathway for them to play”.

“We’d like to think that whatever you’re into, whether science or chem or maths, drama, music and now football/soccer, we think we can really help you develop your potential,” Andy said.

Acknowledging the healthy working relationship Manchester City had already enjoyed with Parade, College Principal Andy Kuppe revealed that the planning for the historic football school had been in train for months and the timing of the announcement could not have been better. As he said: “The school is 150 years old this year, so I couldn’t think of a better birthday present than this partnership . . . it’s great for the school and great for the boys”.

Enrolments for a January 2022 start are now open, with available programs expected to expand over the course of the year.

For further information regarding the Manchester City Football School - https://www.mancity.parade.vic.edu.au/

Read more about Parade’s pioneering footballers of 1963