Everton welcomes Canadian boarding school to its worldwide coaching family

A major education provider in Canada will join with Everton FC to launch a new soccer academy aimed at strengthening youth development in the country and creating opportunities for athletes to pursue their passions.

UNISUS School is based in British Columbia and is renowned as one of the best international boarding schools in the country that offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme.

It becomes the latest addition to Everton’s International Academy Affiliate Programme (EIAAP), with the two organisations set to work together on providing a thriving academy for Scholar-Athletes.

The burgeoning partnership will also include curriculum sharing, player development, coach education, and safeguarding procedures and practices.

The EIAAP initiative provides clubs at all tiers of the game with access to the finest coaching knowledge from Everton’s renowned academy to support with growth – a level of support that sets it apart from more traditional models, it says.

UNISUS student, Tommy, celebrating victory

Support includes a holistic approach to player, coach and club development, offering technical support from Everton’s Finch Farm training complex via a dedicated coaching team and wider business and marketing support from its Royal Liver Building business headquarters.

UNISUS, founded in 2018, is known for its unique Academics+ programme, a pathway enablement scheme that places academics at the core, while providing students with opportunities to pursue their passions.

Through the Academics+ programme, students can pursue top level academics and become a Scholar-Athlete.

Since its inception, UNISUS has a proud recent history of sporting success at the school, through its academies in hockey, snowsports, and motorsports.

The UNISUS Scholar-Athlete programme opens doors to scholarships, scouting, university recruitment, and opportunities to play at the semi-professional and professional levels.

A key benefit for students is that they also have the opportunity to live on campus in the beautiful Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, where their academics are balanced with their professional development in soccer with world class coaching.

UNISUS partners with Everton, as an elite tier EIAAP partner, with the aim of launching a successful Soccer Academy.

Everton will also help to provide future soccer camps, to improve the skills and provide pathways for young students.

UNISUS players will also have the opportunity to visit Everton’s modern Finch Farm complex, the home of Everton’s senior men’s, senior women’s and academy teams, for further education and training.

Peter Chu, executive director of UNISUS School, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Everton Football Club, one of the most successful and longest-standing clubs in England, to launch our Soccer Academy at UNISUS.

“We are providing our Scholar Athletes and young players from across the country with an unprecedented opportunity to train with world class coaching while preparing for university pathways and potential professional careers.

“Everton’s commitment to player development aligns perfectly with our mission to empower students through our Academics+ programme.”

Everton will assist in sharing the Everton Academy curriculum and methods used at Finch Farm to develop both player and coaching skills.

Everton international technical coaching manager, Mark Thompson, said: “I am sure this will prove a fruitful partnership for both organisations, and I know our team of coaches are excited to work alongside UNISUS and their team in supporting their soccer academy launch.

“By sharing Everton’s values and coaching methods we will further enhance both our affiliate programme and the club’s growing impact in Canada.”

Everton’s International Academy Affiliate Club programme, which is available to grassroots teams, professional sides, youth academies, girls’ and women’s teams, as well as colleges and universities, was launched in 2020.

The programme, which aims to expand the knowledge and expertise of Everton’s player development processes to affiliated clubs across the world, has affiliates in the US, Canada, South America, Africa, Ireland and Malaysia.