SOCCER ELITE FA SCHOLARSHIP “It’s all about player and personal development. Of course it’s great to win games, leagues and cups, but ultimately we want to provide young players with a first class environment that offers everything a young pro would expect to receive. In addition to the top class coaching,we offer opportunities for our Scholars to continue their education journey via further education, apprenticeships and university. Players will leave our Scholarship as well rounded young adults ready to progress successfully in life.” ABOUT US The Soccer Elite FA Scholarship offers The SEFA Scholarship is managed by a programme that combines high level vastly experienced UEFA-qualifed coaches professional football coaching, A Level with playing and coaching backgrounds and BTEC academic studies, personal in the professional game. Scholars have training courses and football coaching the opportunity to study a Sport BTEC qualifications. Diploma, A-level courses and Maths and English re-sits (when appropriate) across our four sites. This unrivalled combination provides an excellent place to learn and develop, with every player having access to individual support, helping them achieve their goals on and off the field. FOOTBALL PROGRAMME SEFA aims to offer players the same experience they would get at a professional club. Our programmes are at the cutting edge of elite player development - thanks to our playing and coaching experience at professional clubs. TRAINING INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT - 6 hours training per week - pre and post match nutrition - strength and conditioning sessions including recovery protein shakes - pre match phase of play and tactical provided at training and match venues planning - player hydration supplements provided - post match video analysis at training and match venues - individual player match / training video - bespoke, full nutritional programmes analysis - position specific strength programme - post match recovery sessions FIXTURES - against professional clubs - against semi professional clubs - regional academies league - national cup - St George’s Park Showcase tour (invite only) We maintain close relationships with clubs throughout the footballing pyramid. This serves a purpose on two fronts: to arrange regular fixtures with our Scholarship squads, and to secure playing time and contracts for our players at a level suitable for them. Previous fixtures include Chelsea, Leeds United, Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Cardiff City, Barnet, Norwich City and Reading. CLUB PARTNERS EDUCATION PROGRAMME The Maplesden Noakes School, Maidstone, the Brompton Academy, Gillingham, and Northfleet TC, Gravesham provide our player education. Both schools offer a variety of A Level and BTEC courses, and we also provide personal training and football coaching qualifications, securing an academic pathway suitable for each individual. Our partner schools are specially selected for their ability to Alongside our school education, Soccer Elite FA also deliver top quality Sixth Form education to our players. provides the opportunity to gain qualifications in personal training (Maplesden Noakes and Chatham Town) and Both Maplesden Noakes, Brompton and Northfleet are rated football coaching (Maplesden Noakes, Brompton and good by Ofsted and offer a wide range of A Level and BTEC Chatham Town). subjects, as well as fantastic facilities and amenities. Our personal training qualifcation sees students spend 10 We are of the firm belief that football and education go hand hours per week studying for the industry-standard Level 3 in hand at the SEFA Scholarship; therefore all players will be Diploma in Personal Training. Completion of this course will expected to stay up to date with their school work in order to give students the platform to move into personal training at a take part in training and fixtures. gym, or work with teams or individuals as a strength and conditioning coach. It also contributes 32 UCAS points to any A testament to our partner schools can be found in the higher education applications. numerous players who have moved on to university both at home and abroad upon the completion of their Scholarship All Scholars will have the opportunity to gain coaching and Sixth Form studies. badges and subsequently enjoy work opportunities within our Academy sessions. Many of our most popular coaches are We have opportunities to continue the scholars’ education products of the system, having previously been SEFA via traineeships in football coaching, sports coaching and Scholars. personal training. KAIYNE WOOLERY Zak Byskup Kaiyne was part of our first Zak recently gained A-A-B ever SEFA Scholarship squad grades in his A-levels and now which ran from 2011-2013. looks forward to studying The forward moved to Bolton Sports Management at the Wanderers in 2014 before prestigious Loughborough joining Wigan Athletic in the University. Zak is a shining summer of 2016. Following a example of the academic successful loan spell at Forest pathways available to our Green Rovers, which Scholars. By offering included scoring a match- A-Levels through our fantastic winning brace in the partner schools, we continue National League playoff final to offer top class education at Wembley, Kaiyne secured and teaching alongside our a £350,000 move to Swindon renowned football Town in the 2017 summer programme. transfer window. MIRI TAYLOR JORDY ROBINS Technically gifted central Jordy is a fantastic example of midfielder Miri thrived as a somebody taking advantage part of the SEFA Scholarship. of the numerous pathways Now enjoying the second year available to our players. Upon of a football scholarship at the completion of his SEFA the Hofstra University in New Scholarship, Jordy embarked York, Miri has also played for upon a four year football Arsenal and Chelsea Reserves scholarship in America. After - and has been a part of returning home in the summer SUCCESS Champions League squads of 2018, Jordy joined the SEFA at the latter. An England coaching staff. Alongside his youth international, Miri is a SEFA committments, Jordy fantastic role model for any also plays first team football girls looking to join the SEFA for Margate and runs his own Scholarship. successful health and nutrition business. ELLIS IANDOLO PATCH LEE A SEFA player since the age of Goalkeeper Patch took 8, Ellis joined Swindon Town advantage of the option to after impressing in a fixture spend three years as a Scholar between ourselves and from 2014 to 2017. Alongside Swindon under 18s in the playing for SEFA, Patch worked summer of 2015. After with Head Goalkeeper Coach STORIES signing a professional deal Dean Ruddy to develop his aged just 17, Ellis was fast- coaching, and he is now a full tracked into the first team and time member of our coaching made his senior debut a little staff. After also developing over a month after joining superbly as a player during his the club. Despite some injury time as a Scholar, the stopper is problems, the left-sided player also now a first team regular for has gone on to make over 50 Sevenoaks Town in the senior appearances to date for Isthmian League Division One the club. South East. JAMIE PETRIE AARON SIMPSON Multi-talented midfielder Jamie Simmo was a part of the has taken full advantage of the Scholarship for 18 months academic pathways available before joining Wolverhamp- to our players, enrolling at the ton Wanderers in the winter University of Warwick studying of 2014. Regular playing time Mathmatics, Operational in the Wolves under 23 squad Research, Statistics and was supplemented with loans Economics. Thanks to the to clubs including superb A Level and BTEC Portsmouth and Kilmarnock. courses available, JP was able A permanent move to to play football full time while Waterford in Ireland then also being confident that his followed before Aaron academic progress would not returned to Kent in the suffer; he achieved two A*s and summer of 2019, signing for one A at the conclusion of his full time National League side time at SEFA. Dover Athletic. PREPARATION AND RECOVERY Our target is always to offer the most professional environment possible for our Scholars to train and play in. As a part of this, we place a key focus on our preperation and recovery for every game and training session. The SEFA Scholars are supported by Herbalife24. If and when injuries do occur, players have access to Luke Jenner. Herbalife24 is a comprehensive performance and nutrition line empowering athletes 24-hours a day. Luke has been with us for over six years and is a As the world’s leading nutrition brand, Herbalife has batchelor of science specialising in osteopathy. A surpassed industry standards of pre, during and post specialist in the prevention and treatment of workout nutrition to help our players train, recover injuries, Luke perhaps most notably played a key role and perform like never before - all with the in helping Scholar graduate Ellis Iandolo return from nutritional support they need as an athlete. a serious back injury ahead of his move to Swindon Town. Our Scholars are supported by Jordy Robins who assists all players with their nutrition and supple- Luke continues to be a fantastic resource for our ments, providing each player with a personalised players in terms of preventing injuries, spotting issues training plan depending on their training and playing early and treating injuries. needs. CHATHAM TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB EDUCATION PROGRAMME BTEC LEVEL 3 DIPLOMA IN SPORT The Soccer Elite FA Scholarships are the pinnacle of the The Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Sport (720 GLH) has been Academy and aim to help young players make the move from designed to occupy two-thirds of a full-time curriculum, enabling youth and amateur football into the professional game. learners to develop a significant common core of knowledge, including anatomy and physiology, fitness physiology, risk assessment, While improving and developing elite level players and and fitness training and programming. coaches is the primary focus, it offers much more than just football coaching, fully immersing participants in the ultimate It also includes specific mandatory units which are related to the professional footballer experience for a full season.