Carlisle United have announced a new partnership with a north-east based academy in a bid to tap into more talent in that region.

The Blues are linking up with Park View Academy of Sport, based at the Emirates International Riverside cricket ground at Chester-le-Street.

It will include the formation of a new under-19 Carlisle squad that will represent the Blues in the National Football Youth League.

United say the partnership will provide "pathways" for 16-to-19-year-olds who are not affiliated to professional club academies.

They say it will offer such players the chance to be part of a football scholarship scheme, with education provided by Park View Academy Of Sport.

Carlisle's academy manager Darren Edmondson is set to visit Park View to carry out player performance analysis sessions.

United say the programme will mirror the under-18 scholarship scheme already in place at Brunton Park.

Edmondson said: “Traditionally we’ve taken players from the north-east over the years and it can be quite an upheaval for them, particularly at such a young age.

“Moving across here [to Carlisle] to live in digs adds pressure to what is an already intense two-year period, but we’ve been very aware of the fact that the north-east is a region we want to continue to tap in to, whenever possible.

“We’ve seen in the recent past that there are some very good players over there who fall out of the system at all ages, from clubs like Sunderland and Newcastle United, but they’re still good enough to go on to have very successful careers."

Edmondson said players who impress will get the chance to play in Carlisle.

“I’ve been talking to Park View for a long time now, and they have a structure which fits with our own professional ethos,” he added. “It’s an exceptional facility, and the players will get a high standard of educational opportunities alongside their football needs.

"Having looked at the campus, met the staff and explored the vision and pathway, it’s become clear that it is going to be hugely beneficial to all parties."

Edmondson said the National Football Youth League is primarily for young players who have been released at 16, and those extending their scholarships having left clubs at 18.

"We think there will be a wealth of talent for us to take a very close look at," he added."

Lewis Pendleton, director of sport at Park View Academy, said: “We founded the academy last year, and it’s effectively a third campus of Park View school which is dedicated to sport.

“We’re based at the Emirates International Cricket Ground in Durham and we have world-class facilities, which includes full-sized grass pitches, a 3G pitch and a centre showcase pitch with an athletics track.

“The push for us at the moment is to develop the 16 to 19-year-old programme alongside Carlisle United.

"That means we are basically expanding Carlisle United’s academy into the north-east.

“The scholars who are with us have a choice of any A-Level course they want to study, and they combine that with our football scholarship programme. They can also choose a BTEC Diploma in Sport, or a Fitness Diploma.

“The main idea here is that we go on to provide a pathway for players from the north-east to represent Carlisle."

Pendleton said they are also aiming to develop a programme which can provide an additional year of football for boys who leave United's academy at 18.

“That would then mean they’re a year closer to the first team, as it’s obviously a massive jump from under-18 football to the professional ranks. We’re hoping to be able to help to begin to bridge that gap," he added.

Pendleton said United's chief executive Nigel Clibbens had been "instrumental" in creating the new link.