One of Farsley’s youngsters has been away on international duty this week.

Jarrod Smalley, who plays for the club and Leeds City College, was called up into the squad to represent England Colleges' under-17s side. He went to Italy to play in the Roma Caput Mundi Tournament.

The link between the club and the college is Mark Jackson.

He is one of Farsley boss Neil Parsley’s two assistant player-managers but is also head of football at Leeds City College.

There is another new development in the shape of a Farsley Academy under-19s side that will compete in the Conference Youth Alliance next season.

Smalley is one of a select few who have already been accepted into the newly-formed Academy.

There are still places up for grabs, with applicants between the ages of 16 and 18 having the chance to stake a claim in trials planned for next month.

Any newcomers will be expected to be at a high standard already in their football development and the successful ones will train and study full-time at the college with a wide range of sports qualifications and A-levels on offer.

The new Academy side will be competing against Guiseley and Harrogate Town, and the likes of Mansfield Town in the Conference Youth Alliance. They will also be involved in the FA Youth Cup.

Farsley’s president John Palmer said: “I’m delighted that we are launching this new team. The relationship between ourselves and Leeds City College has gone from strength to strength in the last few years.

“Mark Jackson has worked hard getting his plans to become reality and I look forward to following the progress of the team next season.”