Former Nottingham Forest midfielder Andy Reid and ex-boss Paul Hart are helping to nurture talent at an academy in Newark.
Retired former Republic of Ireland international Reid is part of a coaching set up which also includes former Forest caretaker manager Ian 'Charlie' McParland and ex-defender Gary Charles.
They have been working with students at the You Can Do Sport Football Academy, who are taking part in a two-year BTEC level three extended diploma in sport, which is the equivalent to three A-levels.
The programme launched last September and there are 18 students in the current cohort - with 22 signed up to start from September.
The BTEC could lead to careers in sports nutrition, sports physio, sports science or sports psychology.
As part of the course, there is also the opportunity to study for FA-accredited qualifications in coaching or refereeing.
Former Reds' favourite Reid, who is also the head coach of the Irish under-18s side, said: "Charlie and Paul asked me if I would come down and help where I can, and I’m happy to.
"You never lose the love of football and I think that’s why we do it, the four of us, because it’s giving something back to the young kids.
"Seeing them improve from session to session is really rewarding.”
Until his appointment as the Irish head coach in March, Reid had been working full-time in Newark.
He made 290 appearances for Forest across two spells on Trentside, scoring 42 goals, and now helps out when he can.
The programme is open to male and female students aged 16 to 19.
There are no fees involved to sign up and kit is provided. Students must have five GCSEs of the grade four band and above to take part.
They train on new 3G facilities at the multi-million-pound YMCA Sports Village in Bowbridge Road, Newark.
Fifty percent of the week is spent on the pitch.
Students also learn in the classroom, in a building a short distance away at the Magnus Church of England Academy in Earp Avenue.
Mr McParland said it was an 'exciting' choice for students - "especially those who are less academic and crack under exam pressure".
"It keeps them fit, enables them to make lifelong friends and teaches them many different values and life skills that will help them throughout their life," he said.
"As I said to the students: it’s respect for yourself, your teammates, your mum and dad who support you, and the teamwork skills that come from that.”
Paul Hart, who steered the Reds to the First Division play-offs in 2002-03, is a consultant coach and comes down a couple of times each term.
Gary Charles, former director of football at the University of Nottingham who coaches full-time, added: “I have witnessed this sort of programme succeeding, one particular young man springs to mind.
"He didn’t play particularly well, but I admired him because he took a shot at a two-year course when he couldn’t really play football.
"But at the end of the two years, his football had improved massively, and he had his coaching badges and now he’s working in America."
You Can Do Sport co-founder Natalia Postlethwaite added: "The courses will place education on an equal par to the football to create the best outcomes for students.
"Students will undertake a well-rounded, holistic education in sport covering sports nutrition, physio, anatomy and psychology alongside strengthening and conditioning, leadership and individual profiling.
“Our programme provides an opportunity for students who cannot afford to travel out of Newark every day, or who wish to continue their aspirations in the town regardless.
"We will also offer free match and training kit to ensure it is an equal opportunities initiative available to all who wish to apply.
“Our students play in a competitive league to ensure they play regular games and to give them the best possible chance to improve their abilities and hone their skills.”
Todd Cauthorn, Nottinghamshire YMCA’s operations manager for young people and families, said: "Empowering young people from all backgrounds to reach their potential through inclusivity is the driving force of our new Community and Activity Village in Newark.
“Whether you are a complete beginner or elite sportsperson – our charity’s vision is to create a safe, positive environment where local people can learn and grow together as a community.
"It is therefore fantastic to see professional footballers utilising our new 3G pitches to pass on their skills to the next generation.
"We are excited to see the village evolving into a transformative hub of programmes, as it is only through close collaboration of this kind and coming together as a community that we can drive social mobility and make opportunities for health and youth development accessible to all.”
