A SOCCER school in Oxford has already created a number of stars of the future - and it is looking to produce some more.

The football development centre at Oxford and Cherwell Valley College is starting to recruit for its 2008-09 season.

Demand for places is expected to be high, with previous students earning international caps and signing with clubs such as Nottingham Forest and Oxford United.

The course is looking to take on about 40 students - both boys and girls - aged 16-19 who will receive ten hours of professional coaching each week from three Uefa-qualified coaches as part of a BTec course run in conjunction with Abingdon United FC.

Former students Matty Taylor, who signed for United before Christmas, and Gareth McCleary, now a Forest player, are evidence that the course yields the right results.

Other success stories include Tom Roberts, who was selected to represent England Colleges Under-19s in December, and Emma Hayes, who played for Northern Ireland's women's side last season.

But it is not all about players, as many on the course are looking to make it as coaches or physiotherapists.

Max Martini, 19, hopes to go on to study sports therapy at university and work for a football club as a physiotherapist.

He said: "I would definitely recommend the course to anyone willing to work hard. It is really enjoyable and I have had some great opportunities as a result."

Students are expected to work hard off the pitch as well as on it, with topics such as sports psychology, fitness, nutrition and coaching all taught in the classroom.

They train at Brasenose sports ground in Abingdon Road.

Des Buckingham, the centre manager, said: "We follow the main structure of many academy set-ups. Training is held on private sports grounds, providing an excellent environment to learn and improve.

"Obviously, we would love to produce the next David Beckham but, as long as students leave here with the right qualifications and an idea of where in the sports world they want to go next, then we are happy.

"We are keen to hear from girls as well as boys and currently have 14 girls on our courses."

Students can either sign up for a one-year first diploma in sport, a two-year BTec national diploma in sport and exercise science or a two-year BTec national diploma in performance and excellence.

The course is now in its sixth year and has three teams which play in the Conference Youth League, the English Colleges' League and the Oxford Schools' League.

Together with the Oxford United Academy, which is run with Peers School, it is the only place in the city with the FA Charter Standard Award for Excellence.

For details call 01865 550799 or email DBuckingham@ocvc.ac.uk