Hereford United Football Club have teamed up with the Pershore Group of Colleges to establish their youth set-up for the next two seasons.

United have joined forces with the Worcestershire-based institution following an acrimonious split from North Birmingham College towards the end of the last campaign.

Pershore's director of sport, John Rothery, said he was delighted with the new link and hopes the students will progress through the ranks at the Nationwide Conference club.

Rothery: "We are thrilled with the link and I know that Hereford United are, too. About half of the boys on our second intake are from Herefordshire and, hopefully, it will mean that local lads will end up playing for their local professional club - Hereford United."

Last season, the Pershore Group of Colleges had an informal association with Birmingham City but they jumped at the chance to team up with the Edgar Street outfit.

The college's A team will represent Hereford United in the Midland Floodlit Under-18 League and the FA Youth Cup, while the B team are competing in the English College's Cup and the Worcester-shire Under-19 League.

Rothery will be joined by Colin Williams, Gary Stevens, the former Hereford United, Shrewsbury Town and Cardiff City player, and former Herefordshire football development officer James Watkins in delivering the scheme, which includes eight hours' football coaching a week.

The course is based at both Leominster's Bridge Street Sports Centre and at Pershore, with students following a two-year, full-time BTEC National diploma in Sports Studies.

Hereford United boss Graham Turner said: "We have been very impressed with the ideas of the college and it means that the club has closer links in the county."