Former Norwich City goalkeeper Declan Rudd’s company Future Football Elite to take over Diss Town FC’s U18s

A company co-founded by recently-retired Diss-raised professional Declan Rudd is set to take control of his hometown club's under-18s age group to enhance the development of youth talent at Brewers Green Lane.

Diss Town officials have agreed a partnership with Norfolk-based Future Football Elite (FFE) to "provide an extended pathway for talented young players to progress into local senior football".

FFE was co-founded by former Norwich City and Preston North End goalkeeper Rudd in 2017 ahead of his retirement due to a knee injury at the latter Sky Bet Championship club, aged 31.

The player who was capped through England's youth teams from Under-16s to U21s is now FFE's goalkeeper academy director who takes regular sessions with his specialist position as well as writing their technical syllabus.

Former Norwich City football development manager and academy coach Dan Goffin is FFE's academy director who signed the deal that Diss chairman Steve Flatman has insisted did not see any money change hands and will not be to the detriment of local existing players.

“Creating an extended football provision and enabling our young players to experience U18 and senior football has been a priority of ours for some time.

"Our combined resources and experience will continue to provide young footballers in the Norfolk area with opportunities to develop their skills and reach their full potential."

Flatman believes the deal will bear fruit for the club's Thurlow Nunn League First Division North first team that are set to conclude their search for a new manager 'in the next week'.

He said: "We are excited to join forces with Future Football Elite.

"This partnership will support us in attracting talented young players to Diss Town FC who in time, we hope will represent our first team group.

"We are committed to nurturing tale young players, and we believe that this partnership will help us achieve that goal."

Furthermore, a statement on the deal posted on both parties' websites revealed that each season a FFE U16 age group "will have the opportunity to represent Diss Town FC in the Thurlow Nunn Youth League, competing with their peers and experiencing a greater challenge by competing on a regular basis".

It added: "It is this challenge that the coaching team believes will continue to support the development of groups of players not only this coming season, but for years to come to."

FFE states on its website that they only use UEFA B or higher licensed coaches.

Their mission statement reads: "Our philosophy is based on creating highly technical, creative and confident players.

"All of our lead coaches hold a minimum UEFA B licence, with either coaching or playing experience in professional clubs."

FFE currently has training centres in Norwich, Thetford, King's Lynn and Great Yarmouth.