Football

Our comprehensive football programme is designed to nurture talent and fuel your passion for the sport whilst offering academic support for athletes.  Players within our programme have the opportunity to play in local clubs and teams with current players representing Billericay Town FC, AFC Sudbury, Cambridge Utd and Stanway Pegasus.  As part of our Women's Elite Sport Partnership collaboration supporting sportswomen in reaching their full potential, we are also linked with West Ham United women’s team.

A typical week will entail:

• Full football programme (2 pitch based training sessions per week)
• One BUCS competition fixture
• Individual Strength & Conditioning programming and team session
• Performance analysis film sessions 

Players will also have access to:

• Daily performance coaching
• Strength and conditioning coaching
• Performance analysis
• Use of our onsite Sports Therapy Clinic
• Access to campus accommodation
• Allocated lifestyle practitioner
• Workshop programmes with guidance in psychology and nutrition
• Complimentary gym membership
• Access to sports science testing
• Individual / small group workouts 

Football scholarship applications for 2024-2025 have now closed and we are looking forward to welcoming student-athletes for pre-season ahead of the new academic year.

Future student-athletes eager to grow, develop, and strive for personal excellence are able to apply for our sport scholarship for 2025-26 from October. If you're up for the challenge and meet the academic eligibility criteria, we have generous fee waiver scholarships up to 100%, cash bursaries plus additional support packages available to financially help support your time here with us.

Scholarships are highly competitive, therefore applicable to athletes who have played at academy, county, national or international level in the UK or equivalent in your home country.

Alongside performance coaching, recipients of the Performance Sport Scholarship programme may also receive additional support services package benefits such as free kit, use of facilities and access to a range of support services worth up to of £1,500 per year (details outlined below). Our Performance Sport Scholarship programme has four different tiers:

*Some exceptional athletes in receipt of a tier 1 scholarship may also receive additional financial support.

Under tier 1 of the Performance Sport Scholarship program, we award a number of tuition fee discounts to students on University of Essex undergraduate, postgraduate taught and postgraduate research courses.

Football fee discounts for students commencing their studies at Essex in 2024-25 are:

Women's

Men's

Details and Deadlines

Applications for our football scholarship awards ended 31 May 2024.

If you have any queries about our football program, please email performancesport@essex.ac.uk

We are proud to be a Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) delivery site. As a Sport England funded partnership between talented athletes, the University of Essex and national governing bodies of sport, we work together to develop the best young talent within the UK.

The TASS Dual Career Accreditation Scheme recognises an education institution’s commitment to dual career support for talented athletes who are in full time education. We are pleased to offer an enhanced level of academic flexibility and understanding to allow our athletes the ability to balance their studies with a demanding but rewarding sporting schedule.

Alongside a playing career, we also have a range of opportunities to support your professional growth, to navigate a path through placements including but not limited to Sports Therapy, Performance Analysis, Sport Science and game day support. 

We are currently in the process of interviewing and recruiting a full-time performance coach within our football program. Meantime, you’re in the capable hands of Rosi Webb, coach development officer for our FA women’s high performance football centre. She is also the highest ranked female coach in men’s football in England.

During your time at Essex, seize the chance to elevate your transferable skills. We provide platforms that spotlight your talents for potential employers in the UK. Your journey extends beyond the pitch, laying the groundwork for a successful and fulfilling career. Our football programme is designed to help you prepare for either a career in football or carry on football in some way after your time here at the university finishes.

Read about some of the successful athletes, past and present on our Performance Sport Blog.