Langley Football Academy

First-Class Football Academy Combined with Academic Excellence

Langley School’s reputation is as a leading sports school, and nowhere is this more true than in our football academy. Designed for both boys and girls, Langley Football Academy combines first-class football coaching alongside an outstanding academic curriculum. We run two programmes, the Junior LFA for ages 7-13 at Langley Prep School in Taverham, and the Senior LFA for ages 10-18 at Langley Senior School in Loddon.

Led by former Premiership legend Grant Holt, it has a pedigree that is the envy of many. We have prepared a number of today’s professionals, both male and female, for life at the top. Pupils have gone on to play at top clubs including Norwich City, Ipswich Town and Leicester City to name but a few. Our football programme offers a blend of personal and skills development, equipping players with the mental and physical resilience it takes to reach the top. We offer our players the best of both worlds: a professional academy within the setting of a leading UK independent school. This ensures our LFA members are provided with a great education, both on and off the pitch.

Unlocking Potential

The beauty of playing in Langley’s football academy is that no matter the entrance standard, players receive the individual attention they need to play at the very best level they can. The LFA operates all year round, and pupils build skills from sports other than football which help improve conditioning, ensure recovery, and transfer skills back into their game.

Our coaching team includes UEFA A and B licensed coaches, and you can see a glimpse of their work in the video below.

Great coaching is a blend of support and challenge, focusing on what happens in the mind as much as in the body, and our team is expert in all dimensions of coaching.

Click to watch the full video

From Junior to Pro

At Junior level, our Academy players are grouped according to age, starting with Years 3 and 4. Players will have the opportunity to compete in IAPS and ISFA fixtures. They will also have the chance to play in a number of football festivals, tournaments and county cup competitions.

Our Senior Academy graduates have gone on to play professional football for several teams in the Premier League as well as in the youth England teams and Hong Kong’s international team. Our women players have been a priority for development in recent years, and one of the leading women in that cohort is currently playing for Leicester City Women’s Under 21 team, having also played for England Under 17.

Our coaching team is ambitious, supportive and connected to each LFA player, helping them extract their very best football performances whether at school, county or national level. They are also extremely well-networked, with Grant Holt being the current Under 14 coach at Norwich City FC, having recently scouted for West Ham.

The aim always is to provide students with positive but challenging coaching experiences. Every child will have the attention they deserve, whether their aspirations are recreational or elite, but they will all work hard and be encouraged to connect with all aspects of the game. This will include learning about nutrition, sports psychology, game play, communication and leadership.
The LFA leadership team organises fixtures (schools, county and ESFA), international tours (for Senior players) and other development opportunities for Academy players. This provides exposure to teams both inside and outside of the county and builds connections for future opportunities.

Train Beyond the School Day

A high percentage of our football school academy pupils are also boarders, both domestic and international. This provides Academy players with an immersive experience and opportunities to kick a ball around outside of the school day. Read more about our Boarding experience. If you’re interested in an international place, you’ll be glad to hear that our Admissions team will take most of the administrative burden from you. Read more about the International Admissions process.

If you’re interested in an Academy place, please contact the Admissions team today. The team will arrange an initial conversation with one of the Langley Football Academy team, and we’ll take it from there!

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langley football academy faqs

Yes – at Langley Football Academy, students follow a full academic pathway alongside their football development. Pupils study for GCSEs, A Levels, or BTEC qualifications, ensuring they leave with strong academic outcomes as well as football experience. This ‘dual pathway’ is a core part of Langley’s philosophy: combining elite sport with a rigorous education.
A school football academy (like Langley) offers a hybrid model, combining elite coaching with a broad academic curriculum, personal development, and broader career pathways. A professional club academy is primarily focused on producing professional players without the emphasis on academics.

Langley’s approach ensures students develop on and off the pitch, with pathways not only into professional football, but also university scholarships and careers in sports-related fields.
Langley Football Academy welcomes students from ages to 10 to 18, with multiple entry points throughout their school journey.

This allows players to join early and develop their football over time, or start later once they have explored their interests and are ready to pursue their passion for football more seriously.

Lead Coach, Jordan King runs the Junior Langley Football Academy which is also open to pupils from Y3-Y8 at our Prep School in Taverham.
Absolutely. Langley actively welcomes international students and provides boarding accommodation for children age 10-18, dedicated English Language Support (EAL), assistance with admissions and visas, immersion into British life, and a diverse, welcoming community. This makes it a fully accessible pathway for international pupils.
Langley students progress into a variety of pathways, including professional football academies and clubs such as Norwich City (Men and Women), Ipswich Town and Leicester City, university scholarships (UK and US), and careers in coaching, sports science or physiotherapy. The academy’s strong network, links and broad academic curriculum helps students explore future on and off the pitch.
Boarding offers a clear advantage for players who are serious about development. At Langley, boarders benefit from more training time and facilities access, daily immersion in a football-focused environment, in addition to living and training alongside like-minded players. All this combined can accelerate progress compared to standard day programmes.
Yes – girls can absolutely attend football boarding school. Langley offers high-level coaching and development pathways for both boys and girls, with a strong track record of developing female talent. Players from the Academy have progressed into the ISFA U18 Women’s team, while others have gone on to be part of professional teams such as the Norwich City and Leicester City’s Women teams.

A word from our Director of Football…

“My aim is simple – create first-class football progression, alongside an outstanding academic curriculum and a broad range of co-curricular activities.”

Mr Grant Holt, Langley Director of Football