FA Emerging Talent Centres

FA GIRLS’ EMERGING TALENT CENTRES TO PROVIDE GREATER ACCESSIBILITY TO THE PLAYER PATHWAY

The Football Association [The FA] can today confirm the first 60 Girls’ Emerging Talent Centre [ETC] licences have been allocated, which will see the number of young female players engaged in FA programmes across the country rise from 1,722 to over 4,200 by the end of the 2023-24 season.

These numbers also present a 59% increase based on the actual number of FA programmes, going from 39 programmes to 60, enabling greater access for players across the country.

Thanks to funding from the Premier League, The FA recently unveiled plans to grow its existing talent programme for women’s football with the introduction of up to 70 Girls’ ETCs, aiming to sustain its future and provide a wider and more diverse talent pool for the game. Today’s announcement shows positive progress has already been made.

The national network of Girls’ ETCs will be aimed at girls aged eight to 16. The new Centres will operate for at least 30 weeks per season and will commence from September 2022. The Centres will be underpinned by five key areas:

1.      Better accessibility

2.      More inclusivity

3.      Reducing the impact of early selection

4.      More focused investment

5.      Providing more appropriate challenges

Earlier this year, the Premier League confirmed it will provide £1.75 million per annum for the next three years to support the new network of Girls’ ETCs.

Kay Cossington, The FA’s Head of Women’s Technical, said: “Our key aims are to provide greater access for more players whilst diversifying the talent pool, and I am delighted that the early signs show that we are well on track to achieve those aims.

“We are extremely excited to be working alongside such a diverse  group of clubs and organisations, which will help us identify players for the future, including future England Lionesses.”

Premier League Chief Football Officer, Tony Scholes said: “The Premier League and our clubs are committed to developing football at all levels and it is important that girls across the country have greater opportunities to progress in the game.

“We are pleased to have provided the funding which will significantly enhance the pathways for young female footballers, and it is great to see the first licences allocated for the new Emerging Talent Centres.”

Licences were allocated on a regional basis allowing for greater geographical coverage, whilst providing greater accessibility for a larger pool of players.

The full breakdown of confirmed licences can be found below:

North EastYorkshireNorth West
Durham Women FCBarnsley Women FCBlackburn Rovers Ladies FC
Newcastle United FoundationBradford City Community FoundationBlackpool FC Community Trust
Sunderland Foundation  of LightDoncaster Rovers Belles FCChester FC Community Trust
Teesside UniversityHull City Ladies FCCrewe Alexandra in the Community
York City FoundationLeeds United FoundationEverton Women FC
 Lincoln City FoundationLiverpool FC Women
 Rotherham United Community Sports TrustManchester City in the Community
 Sheffield United FCManchester United Foundation
  Preston North End Community and Education Trust
MidlandsEastLondon
Aston Villa Women FCBedfordshire County FAArsenal Women FC
Birmingham City Women FCColchester United Community Sports TrustBrentford Community Sports Trust
Burton Albion Community TrustCambridge United FCCharlton Athletic Women FC
Derby County Community TrustIpswich Town FCChelsea FC Women
Shrewsbury Town Football in the CommunityMilton Keynes Dons Sport and Education TrustLeyton Orient Trust
Stoke City Community TrustNorthampton Town Community TrustTottenham Hotspur Women FC
West Bromwich Albion Women FCNorwich City Community Sports FoundationWest Ham United Foundation
 Peterborough United FC 
 Stevenage FC Foundation 
 Watford FC Community Sports and Education Trust 
South EastSouth West 
AFC Bournemouth Community Sports TrustBristol City Women FC 
Brighton and Hove Albion FCCornwall County FA 
Kent County Football AssociationDevon County FA 
Oxford United FCDorset County FA 
Reading Women FCForest Green Rovers FC 
Southampton FCPlymouth Argyle Community Trust 
 Somerset County FA 
 Swindon Town FC Community Foundation 

In addition to those licences already confirmed, The FA will be staging a second invitational application window for eligible clubs and organisations in targeted areas to further support the aim of greater geographical coverage and access.

For more information regarding the Girls’ ETC programme please contact [email protected]