Junior LFA

The programme

Our Academy programme includes an hourly session per week, for ten weeks per term. Academy players also experience:

• First-class coaching from UEFA A and B Licensed coaches.
• Training programmes that incorporate the elements embedded in the Football Association (FA) Four Corner model: technical and tactical, physical, psychological and social.
• Personalised strength and conditioning training.
• Regular feedback on performance in training and games.

The opportunities

Academy players play in the Independent Schools Football Association (ISFA) and Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) competitions, plus friendly fixtures.

There will also be the opportunity to enter competitions such as the Premier League Primary Stars U11s Girls Tournament, EFL U11s Utilita Kids Cup, Norwich City Academy festivals, plus the English Schools Football Association (ESFA) and County Cup competitions in conjunction with the LFA (Senior).

The Academy is run by professionals who are passionate about first-class football progression. Meet the team:

Grant Holt – Director of Football, Langley Football Academy

Grant played for 13 clubs in his professional career, most notably Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sheffield Wednesday, including multiple seasons in the Premier League. During that time, Grant scored a total of 157 goals, with his four years at Norwich City between 2009 – 2013 being the most successful of his 19-year career, scoring 78 times in 168 appearances for the Canaries. Grant holds the LMA Diploma in Football Management, is a UEFA A Licensed Coach and holds the Talent ID Level 1, 2 and 3.

Ali Colman – Langley Football Academy (Senior) Head of Football

Ali joined Langley Football Academy following his 6-year career at Norwich City FC Academy as part of the Senior Management Team. In his time at the NCFC Academy, Ali was also lead coach for the foundation phase (U9, U10, U11 and U12 squads) and the point of contact for 70 players and parents. Ali holds a UEFA A Licence, which enables him to work in the professional game. Knowing first-hand the importance of professional development in a progressive industry, Ali is consistently looking for opportunities to enhance his skills and experience, having been on study visits to Manchester United FC and Bayern Munich FC.

Jordan King – Langley Football Academy (Junior) Lead Coach

Jordan was at Norwich City Community Sports Foundation (CSF) as a football development officer for 12 years prior to joining Langley Football Academy in 2022. Jordan is a UEFA B licensed coach with vast experience in the local football community working with both grassroots and the elite programme within CSF. Currently captain of Wroxham FC, one of Jordan’s key roles is linking the LFA players with local clubs in the community.

When they transition to the Senior School, our Prep pupils will graduate from the Junior to the Senior Academy, which is run alongside a rigorous academic programme. Academy players must achieve both on the pitch and in the classroom.

We are here to nurture football talent from Year 3 upwards at the Prep School. Year groups are paired in the Academy programme, but entry can be at any stage or age:

Year 3 and 4

Year 5 and 6

Year 7 and 8

Our goal is to provide our pupils with the best possible introduction to the world of football and to support them in pursuing their chosen educational or career pathways. The map below represents a few of our amazing alumni who have gone on to play professionally in the UK and beyond.