Velocity Football’s Gerald Muchechetere was on the score sheet in Oxford City’s FA Youth Cup win against Wokingham and Emmbrook on Friday evening.
The Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Sport student netted the third of City’s three goals at the Velocity Stadium to help the club’s U23s side advance to the competition’s second qualifying round.
Callum Lucas registered a goal each side of half-time to ensure the Hoops will play Camberley Town in the tournament’s final qualifying round. The game will be played in the week commencing Monday, September 27.
Muchechetere was joined in the matchday squad by eight of his Velocity Football classmates. They were Latham Hawkins, Niko Nenomen-Millar, Alfie Knight, Abe Davies-Small, Patrick Osbourne, Jordan Boateng, Noe Ben-Adel and Sam Pullan.
Velocity Football male programme coach Ross Jenkins, who was on the touchline, said all players applied themselves professionally to help deliver a complete team performance.
He added: “It’s always pleasing to put three goals on your opposition while keeping a clean sheet, so our players deserve great praise.
“I was equally pleased with the individual and team performances, though – which is what football at this level is all about. All the boys are looking forward to playing in the next round and hopefully going a step closer to reaching the first round proper.
“Forming a strong partnership between Velocity Football and Oxford City’s senior and academy teams helps us to develop players’ on-field talents and provide a proven progression pathway.
“We do this while Virtual Learning UK delivers a quality education programme on-site that is proven to help young people interested in a career in sport to fulfil their future employment aspirations.”
Velocity Football is a full-time sports-based education programme based at Oxford City FC.
The programme has strong partnerships with the football club as part of its commitment to providing students with a strong development pathway aligned with their studies.
Coaches include former Watford midfielder Ross Jenkins, Jordan Piper, Head of Academy at Oxford City Junior and Youth Football Programme and Oxford United Women’s captain Lauren Haynes.
Jordan Piper said: “All students have hit the ground running this term both on the pitch and in the classroom.
“It’s great to see students applying lessons they have learnt on the Velocity programme in competitive matches and the development of players’ individual ability is evident to see.
“We understand not everyone joins Velocity Football with the intention of becoming a professional footballer.
“It’s why we’re catering for students aspiring to careers in coaching, strength and conditioning, nutrition, media, physiotherapy and more through work experience and apprenticeship programmes.
“Well done to all nine Velocity students involved in Friday’s FA Cup win.”
Goal scorer Gerald Muchechetere added: “It was a great feeling to score my first ever FA Youth Cup goal at the Velocity Stadium.
“The team played really well. Being able to train with the U23s twice a week while studying the Velocity programme has really helped develop my game. It’s improving my ability on the pitch and helping me establish a strong understand of the career options available in sport.
“There was a great atmosphere in the dressing room afterwards and we’re all excited for next week’s game against Camberley.”
