FOOTBALL: Tim Gaske has one primary aim for the Southern Downs Football Academy - to help every child go as far as they can in the sport.

Gaske is director of coaching of an academy which has broadened it base and gone out on its own this season after starting under the umbrella of the Warwick Wolves.

The academy has 93 players, aged four to 15, on the books from 54 families.

There are eight coaches, five who are completing their national C licence, which means they can coach in the National Premier League up to under-13 level.

Academy president Scott Clegg said the Southern Downs Football Academy wanted to keep a strong relationship with local clubs.

"We will be encouraging academy members from Warwick to join the Warwick association for club football,” he said.

"Branding us Southern Downs will hopefully attract more players from a wider area, including Stanthorpe.”

Both stressed it was an academy and not a club. While it is possible for academy teams to be approved to play in carnivals, the major emphasis is on coaching. The academy will not run a fixture competition.

"We have coaching for 90 minutes each Tuesday and Thursday for 40 weeks of the year,” Gaske said.

"The academy wants players to have the same training, year in, year out. The coaching up to ages 12 and 13 will be skill based and then more game related for the older kids.

"We are looking at some extra training with other academies like the Total Football Academy at the Gold Coast and hope to bring academy coaches from West Bronwich Albion to the Southern Downs again.

"Similar academies to ours have developed players for national competitions.”

Warwick Wolves president Cameron Davey said his club supported what the academy was doing in continuing to provide quality coaching.

"I see the academy as an asset to the club and community as it provides extra training,” he said.

Academy training will start next week and annual costs from $150 to $270 depending on age. No charge for third child in a family.