High performance centre

FA Women's High Performance Football Centre

The FA has launched eight Women’s High-Performance Football Centres based at Universities across the country, including two here in Manchester.

A key role for the new centres is to support and drive The FA’s ambition to increase the number of qualified coaches and improve the quality of coaching, both central to the growth of the women’s game.
The centres will provide an educational and community-based setting to recruit, develop and deploy coaches, who will lead and inspire player development specifically in the women’s and girls’ game
Manchester FA are delighted that both Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Manchester have both been selected as High-Performance Centres.

Establishing a connection with the England talent pathway and FA WSL clubs, the centres will provide talented players with an environment to facilitate both their academic and football ambitions, providing a variety of services such as, coaching, sports science and sports medicine and scholarship opportunities. 
In addition, The FA Women’s High-Performance Football Centres will create the next generation of the game’s behind-the-scenes workforce, whether as volunteers, administrators or development staff.

The announcement follows The FA’s ‘Gameplan for Growth’ strategy which was unveiled in 2017. 
The strategy outlined The FA’s commitment to double participation and the number of fans in the women’s game by 2020, whilst creating a sustainable and successful high-performance system to help England teams at every age group compete with distinction on the world stage.

The following eight universities have been selected based on their ability to deliver against the six key focus areas including coach development, collaboration with existing local football providers and supporting the England talent pathway.

University of Birmingham

University of Chichester

University of Gloucestershire

Manchester Consortia – Manchester Metropolitan University & University of Manchester

Northumbria University

Nottingham Consortia – University of Nottingham & Nottingham Trent University

Sheffield Hallam University

St Mary’s University

Baroness Sue Campbell, The FA’s Head of Women’s Football said: “The establishment of these centres is a further proof point of The FA’s commitment to transform the future of women’s football in England.

“They will ensure aspiring coaches and talented players in all parts of the country have access to the best training and support possible, providing us with the greatest opportunity for success at all levels of international football.”

Manchester’s FA Women’s High-Performance Centre will support all coaches across the Women and Girls Pathway through workshops, bursary’s, female game specific CPD and 1:1 mentoring.

Whether you’ve never coached before, are volunteering at your local club or work in the England Talent Pathway, contact Coach Development Officer, Charlotte Healy to see how the FA WHPFC can support you in your coaching journey.