GIRLS’ EMERGING TALENT CENTRES
The Girls’ Emerging Talent Centres across England provides greater accessibility to the player pathway and more inclusivity for female players to enhance player development.
Funding of £5.25 million from the Premier League across the next three years will see players engaged in FA Pathway programmes more than double helping to create greater access for all. Girls’ Emerging Talent Centres across the nation will increase and diversify the talent pool and gives more girls than ever the chance to take their first steps on the pathway towards playing professional football and following in the footsteps of the inspirational Lionesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main purpose of the Girls’ Emerging Talent Centres (ETCs) is Talent ID: To identify and develop future potential players by providing local, accessible high-quality training environments. The new Centres will offer increased playing time, varied football formats and allow players to play for both an Emerging Talent Centre and a grassroots club, school, or representative team, which we hope will enhance the variety of playing experiences.
The plans will see a wider national network of ETCs for girls aged eight to sixteen, forming a wide base at the entry point of the pathway. The number of players is set to rise from the current 1,722 to 4,200 by the end of the 2023/24 Season.
There are up to 73 Emerging Talent Centres across the country with licences granted to external clubs and organisations to become a Girls’ Emerging Talent Centre, based on strict criteria being met and eligible organisations included:
● Affiliated women’s football clubs in Tier 1-4 of the Women’s Football Pyramid
● The Club Community Organisations (CCOs) linked to Premier League, EFL and National League Clubs
● County FAs and FA Women’s High Performance Football Centres
Centres must deliver a minimum of one session per week which includes 1.5 Hours of technical training to each age group, for 30 weeks. Age appropriate Strength & Conditioning/Physical Literacy must be included within the practical training hours as part of the wider framework. Goalkeeping provision aligned to the wider framework must be provided within the practical training hours.
Centres will provide players with a minimum one game every six weeks which will include at least one festival in line with the Centre’s wider framework. This will include exposure to a variety of playing formats and experiences, including futsal.
There is focus on a holistic approach to player development which includes:
● Technical & Physical Framework
● Long-term Player Development principles
● Provide and facilitate additional stretch and challenge opportunities for high performing players
● Psychological/Social Development Support
● Education/Lifestyle Development Support
Players attending an ETC have the same opportunities to progress in the Women's England Talent Pathway as those players who are not attending an ETC therefore ensuring that access to the Women's England Talent Pathway are accessible and inclusive for every player who is showing talent and potential.
For further information please contact: playerpathway@thefa.com
THE NATIONAL NETWORK
Durham Women FC | Contact: Louise Robinson - Louise.robinson@durhamwfc.co.uk
Foundation of Light | Contact: Jack Gray - jack.gray@foundationoflight.co.uk
Newcastle United Foundation | Contact: Lisa Bell - Lisa.bell@nufc.co.uk
Teeside University | Contact: Will Jones - w.jones@tees.ac.uk
York City Foundation | Contact: Steph Turnbull - td.ycfcf@gmail.com
Barnsley Women's FC | Contact: Tobias Taylor - tobiastaylor@barnsleywomensfc.co.uk
Bradford City FC Community Sports Trust | Contact: Qasim Akhtar - Qasim.akhtar@bcfccommunity.co.uk
Doncaster Rovers Belles FC | TBC
Grimsby Town Sports & Education Trust | Contact: Mike Baker - mike@grimsbytownfoundation.co.uk
Hull City Ladies FC | Contact: Chris Hames - Chris.hames@hullcityladies.com
Leeds United Foundation | Contact: Abigail Lee - abigail.lee@leedsunited.com
Lincoln City Foundation | Contact: Danny Carter - danny.carter@lincolncityfoundation.co.uk
Rotherham United Community Sports Trust | Contact: Ashley Donovan - Adonovan@rotherhamunited.net
Sheffield United FC | Contact: Heather Myronko - heather.myronko@sufc.co.uk
Blackburn Rovers Ladies FC | Contact: Jamie Roberts - jroberts@rovers.co.uk
Blackpool FC Community Trust | Contact: Andrew Aspinall - andrew.aspinall@bfcct.co.uk
Burnley FC in the Community | Contact: Rebecca Clough - r.clough@burnleyfc.com
Carlisle United Community Sports Trust | Contact: Paul Carrigan - paul.carrigan@carlisleunitedcst.co.uk
Chester FC Community Trust | Contact: Kalvin Williams - kalvin.williams@chesterfc.com
City in the Community | TBC
Crewe Alexandra in the Community | Contact: Ray Walker - rwalker@crewealex.net
Foundation 92 | Contact: Jess Peers - jess.peers@foundation92.co.uk
LFC Foundation | Contact: Jordan Wimpenny - Jordan.wimpenny@liverpoolfc.com
Manchester United Foundation | Contact: Becky Topping - becky.topping@mufoundation.org
Preston North End Community and Education Trust | Contact: Cameron Molloy - cameron.molloy@pne.com
Westmorland County FA | Contact: Sophie Hughes - sophie.hughes@westmorlandfa.com
Aston Villa Women FC | Contact: Josie Cottam - josephine.cottam@avfc.co.uk
Birmingham City Women FC | Contact: TBC
Burton Albion Community | Contact: TBC
Derby County Community Trust | Contact: Michael Noon - michael.noon@dcct.co.uk
Leicester City Women FC | Contact: TBC
Nottingham Forest Women FC | Contact: TBC
Shrewsbury Town Football in the Community | Contact: Jonny Hughes - jonny.hughes@foundationstfc.co.uk
Sky Blues in the Community | Contact: Ivaylo Dragiev - ivaylo.dragiev@sbitc.org.uk
Stoke City Community Trust | Contact: Kath Tranter - kath.tranter@stokecityfc.com
The Albion Foundation | Contact: Lauren Affron - lauren.affron@albionfoundation.co.uk
Wolves Women FC | Contact: Claire Hakeman - clairehakeman@wolves.co.uk
Bedfordshire County FA | Contact: Marc Di Carlo - Marc.DiCarlo@BedfordshireFA,com
Cambridge United FC | Contact: Charlotte Crisp - CharlotteC@cambridgeunited.com
Colchester United Football in the Community | Contact: Niamh Gamble - niamh.gamble@colchesterunited.net
Ipswich Town FC Foundation | Contact: Phoebe Webb - phoebe.webb@itfc.co.uk
Milton Keynes Dons Sport and Education Trust | Contact: Maddy Woolgar - maddy.woolgar@mkdonsset.com
Northampton Town Community Trust | Contact: Scott Loughran - scott.loughran@ntfc.co.uk
Norwich City Community Sports Foundation | Contact: Summer Ward - summer.ward@norwichcitycsf.org.uk
Peterborough United FC | Contact: Chloe Brown - Chloe.brown@theposh.com
Stevenage FC Foundation | Contact: Dani Toyn - dani.toyn@stevenagefcf.com
Arsenal Women FC | Contact: TBC
Brentford Community Sports Trust | Contact: TBC
Charlton Athletic Women | Contact: Sue Prior - sue.prior@cafc.co.uk
Chelsea FC Women | Contact: Harry Baker - harry.baker@chelseafc.com
Leyton Orient Trust | Contact: Emma Thorne - emma.thorne@leytonorienttrust.org.uk
Palace for Life Foundation | Contact: Jake Foster - jakefoster@palaceforlife.org
Tottenham Hotspur Women FC | Contact: Chris Gillman - chris.gillman@tottenhamhotspur.com
Watford FC Community Sports and Education Trust | Contact: TBC
West Ham United Foundation | Contact: Sam Taylor - staylor@westhamunited.co.uk
Brighton and Hove Albion FC | Contact: Alethea Paul - girls.academy@brightonandhovealbion.com
Kent County FA | Contact: Rebecca Moore - rebecca.moore@kentfa.com
London City Lionesses FC | Contact: TBC
AFC Bournemouth | Contact: Dave Staddon - David.staddon@afcb.co.uk
Oxford United FC | Contact: Kerri Coombs - KCoombs@oufc.co.uk
Pompey in the Community | Contact: Kirsty Pearce - kirsty.pearce@pompeyitc.org.uk
Reading FC Community Trust | Contact: Emma Hopkins - ehopkins@readingfc.co.uk
Southampton FC | Contact: Geoffrey Gulzar - ggulzar@saintsfc.co.uk
Bristol City Women FC | Contact: Charlie Mitchell - charlie.mitchell@bcfc.co.uk
Cornwall County FA | Contact: Chloe Harris - Chloe.harris@cornwallfa.com
Devon County FA | Contact: Matt Hodgson - matthew.hodgson@devonfa.com
Dorset County FA | Contact: Jemma Tewkesbury - jemma.tewkesbury@dorsetfa.com
Exeter City Community Trust | Contact: TBC
Forest Green Rovers FC | Contact: Joe Manns - joseph.manns@fgr.co.uk
Herefordshire County FA | Contact: George Leyshon-James - George.Leyshon-James@herefordshireFA.com
Plymouth Argyle Community Trust | Contact: Josh Chalk - Josh.chalk@pafc.co.uk
Somerset County FA | Contact: Rachael Lawler-Edwards - rachael.lawler-edwards@somersetfa.com
Swindon Town FC Community Foundation | Contact: Brad Carter - brad@stfcfoundation.com
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