The Histon Academy was founded in 2006 when Kit Carson started discussions with the officials at the club and they could see the potential in having his tutelage at a Histon Academy. Kit Carson’s reputation in the region for youth development was and remains significant following his work in developing players at Norwich City, Peterborough United and Cambridge United. The Histon experiment would also prove to be a vehicle towards developing players, with first teamers Daniel Sparkes, James Stevenson, Lewis Taaffe, Zak Mills and Jay Dowie all progressing through as part of Kit’s era in charge of the Academy. Furthermore a considerable number would also see the pathway through to the higher levels of football with a number of players now playing in the championship or Premier league both at first team and youth team levels.

As the club rose through the non-league pyramid success would continue to come the way of the Academy with the Histon teams regularly rubbing shoulders with the top teams throughout Europe and the Academy often competing far beyond the level of a club the size of Histon.

In 2009/10 Kit made a move to become a consultant for the Academy with Adam Clements (who had been one of the original coaches within the Academy) taking the helm. While the club struggled in other areas the Academy continued with a good level of success within the Academy. Brian Page was elevated to Scholarship Coordinator and First team Assistant Manager, which helped to integrate the Club’s youth development strategy from Under 9 to first team level with a system that would focus the progression of all players.

With this success Adam Clements was offered the chance to recreate the system at Premiership new boys Blackpool and with these opportunities only coming around sparingly Adam took on the role. Following a period of time without an Academy Director, Howard Willmott was appointed into the role in the spring of 2011.

While Howard was not a coach in the Histon Academy before taking on the role, the coaching philosophy created and developed by Kit Carson and Adam Clements are still strongly adhered to. The system of player evaluation based on the T.I.P.S scheme is still as prevalent, and the understanding that Personality is a crucial factor in the development of young professionals remains a strong link to the success of the past. To achieve any future success, tours will carry the same level of importance in the programme and players are still treated as young professionals.

Since the Academy’s formation in 2006 the programme has become a unique and seminal part of Histon Football Club and in some respects with its investment in youth, the club has created its own identity based on the young players it has developed.