The Elite Academy is based in Doncaster. We also provide an experience to Emerging talent too.
Our Academy Director has extensive experience in the women’s game having worked with many players currently playing in the WSL and USA and a number of the current England squad (Demi Stokes, Rachel Daly, Lucy Staniforth, Abbi McManus & Fran Kirby) and more whilst coaching England U19s representatives at international level.
Having also previously held the role of Academy Manager and Head of Coaching at Doncaster Rovers
Not all young talented players have an opportunity to play in a Pro Game Academy. (Sheffield United is the only club in Yorkshire) The best things that has come from the rebrand is that all young girls are now part of the England talent pathway and they do need to be signed to play for a club. The FA have also established ETC’s that have been put in place to support he pro game academies by providing additional coaching alongside grassroots football. These centres which locally include (Rotherham United , Doncaster Rovers Belles, Sheffield United & Leeds United) offer a training only programme which allows girls to continue to play from clubs in grassroots league outside of the ETC/PGA pathway.
The FA itself admitted at the launch ‘…we haven’t even scratched the surface.’ Which suggests they have further developments to come in the future and also that budgets for this are limited.
This means there is an even greater need for a larger number of players to receive expert coaching and match practice/guidance in a professional environment. At Elite Academy we have both the expertise and experience in youth football development to replicate and deliver a coaching programme to match those of the best Pro game Academies in the country. Our coaches hold UEFA Pro, A and B licences, Advanced youth awards and collectively hold over 80 years of experience working in professional Mens and Womens football.
