As Slough Football Club's first team returns home after 13 years a surprise new agreement will see its young Academy members getting their education in the town as well.

As fans get ready for the Rebels’ first game at the new Arbour Park stadium in Stoke Road on Monday, a surprise 'teaming up' has been announced between Slough Town Football Club and St Joseph's Catholic High School.

Winning the right to educate budding 16 to 18-year-olds stars in the Slough Town Football Club Academy is the icing on the cake for the school in Shaggy Calf Lane, which has once again produced its best ever A level and BTEC results.

The partnership is designed to make sure the Academy pupils get good academic qualifications as they work towards possible future football careers.

Steve Easterbrook, chairman of Slough Town FC added "I am delighted that we are able to provide this and also extremely pleased that the Football Academy will now be based in Slough and has partnered with St Joseph’s School.

"Just last week St Joseph's Catholic High School reported that once again they had achieved the school’s best ever A level and BTEC results – which is a fantastic achievement. With this new partnership and the first team due to return home after 13 years in exile - these really are exciting times."

Headteacher at St Joseph Ciran Stapleton said it all started with an informal chat with Mr Easterbrook.

Mr Stapleton said: "We started talking about education and I ended up saying 'why don't you send your students here'?"

Slough Town FC's academy offers a two year, fulltime education and football development programme, open to talented young footballers aged 16 to 18.

Now they will do their A levels or BTEC exams at St Joseph's while still spending two hours day training.

It is Mr Stapleton's third year as headteacher at St Joseph's Catholic High School - during which he has turned it from a failing school into the top four per cent best in the country.

He has no intention of moving on to turn another school around.

He said: "I have made a promise to the parents. I love this school, the kids are amazing."