Academy
The Eastleigh FC Academy offer aspiring footballers the opportunity to develop and showcase their talents against professional football clubs and development centres.
ABOUT THE ACADEMY
Eastleigh FC Academy offers professional coaching to players from Under 8 through to Under 16. Our aim is to recruit local talented individuals and help every player to fulfill their potential through our structured training syllabus. We operate outside of the constraints that arise when players sign for a football league club therefore all of our players receive professional academy level training once a week but can still participate in weekend football.
The Academy aims not only to develop player’s football but create well rounded individuals off the field of play. The Eastleigh FC Academy is a direct link to the 1st Team who currently compete in the Vanarama National League, one tier below the football league.
We offer aspiring footballers the opportunity to showcase their talents against professional football clubs and development centres. The Academy has access to a number of fantastic training/match day facilities to ensure that all players enjoy their time as part of the academy. We strive to give all our players more opportunities and greater experiences designed to help them progress on and off the pitch for the future.
The Academy section also have fantastic links and relationships with professional clubs higher in the pyramid to help aid the progression of the players if needed. A number of players have progressed to Southampton FC, AFC Bournemouth, Portsmouth FC, Reading FC, Bristol City, Swindon Town and more in order to continue their footballing pathway.
As mentioned, the Eastleigh Academy works outside the constraints of the football league meaning players are able to continue to play for their grassroots teams on the weekend. We don’t just ‘allow’ this, we actively encourage players to play/continue playing for their grassroots sides as it is an integral part of any player’s development.
ETHOS
Our coaches follow a comprehensive syllabus designed to encourage young players to develop their technique, skill, creativity and game understanding across the board in a positive learning environment.
We coach through game related practices and small sided games, which we believe allows for repetition of pictures that they will see in the game. This repetition helps to build skill development and game understanding, which is relevant and realistic to the young player’s game.
All players will receive informative reviews across the season which we see as invaluable for the players. These reviews allow the coaches to give feedback to the players to help aid future development.
GOALKEEPERS
At Eastleigh Academy, we provide specialist goalkeeper training sessions across all age groups (U8s-U16s). These are separate to outfield training sessions and are designed specifically for goalkeepers to develop and further their skills. Our goalkeeper coaches follow a structured syllabus that encompasses all areas of what the modern goalkeeper will require such as: footwork and handling, distribution/playing out from the back, and dealing with high balls and crosses.
THE EASTLEIGH ACADEMY PATHWAY
At Eastleigh FC, we are able to offer a clear pathway for talented footballers to progress and be nurtured through the clubs youth system all the way from U8s to U19s. Unique to other football programmes/centres, we provide a direct link/pathway to the clubs first team, evident in our recent success of players going on to make first team appearances for the club.
Our Academy age groups begin at Under 8s and progress under the guidance of our elite team of coaches through to Under 15s. During this time, players train one evening a week and compete in a selection of fixtures against professional clubs and development centres throughout the course of the season. Fixtures are held primarily during school holidays and half terms with the occasional midweek evening so as not to clash with any grassroots matches taking place on weekends.
The U8s-U15s lead into our Under 16s squads who train twice a week and compete in fixtures on a weekly basis as part of the Hampshire Combination & Development League (U18s). Once players finish the Under 16s, then selected players will be offered the opportunity to take their next step up the EFC pyramid by joining the Football Scholarship at Eastleigh Football Club.
The Eastleigh FC Scholarship is a Football and Education programme based at Eastleigh FC, competing in fixtures weekly as part of The National Youth Alliance League/Tactic League, whilst training and studying a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma In Sport daily. During this period, player will also get the chance to be selected to take part in the prestigious FA Youth Cup. Previous seasons have been very successful and we have faced league opposition such as Portsmouth FC, Plymouth Argyle, Gillingham FC and Cheltenham Town.
CONTACT US
Would your child like to get involved? To check availability for places/trials or for any other enquires please contact us on the details below and be sure to follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram.
Under 8-11 enquiries
Liam Dyer (Lead Foundation Phase Coach)
ldyer@eastleighfc.com
Under 12-15 enquiries
Jason Brookes (Lead Development Phase Coach)
jbrookes@eastleighfc.com
Under 16 and General academy enquiries
Luke Hardy (Head Of Academy)
lhardy@eastleighfc.com
