In 2007-08 British Colleges Sport, with financial support from
The Football
Association, established the England Colleges Football programme to
develop students who are combining full-time studies in further
education colleges with playing a high standard of football. The
programme runs alongside the 4-year football development strategy
for FE 2008-2012 which contributes to the FA National Game Strategy
2008-2012.
Background
Football is the most populated sport within further education sport
and the BCS representative programme has an extraordinary reach.
The regional team system has historically always been held in high
regard, and is followed closely by over two hundred member colleges
from seven English regions.
The national team programme has further raised the level of
football representation and significantly raised the aspirations of
those students and staff selected to take part.
Aims & objectives of programme
- To develop an effective
system to allow players in full-time further education to represent
their country.
- To identify players within
college football with outstanding ability and place them in an
environment designed to produce football and educational
excellence.
- To develop an effective
system to identify coaches and workforce with high potential
working within the FE sector and develop, train and mentor
them.
Process
As part of the programme BCS run two sides (one male & one
female), with a pathway for players with disabilities also under
consideration. Players are selected from a structured trial system
that starts initially with phase one regional trials in October,
progressing through to a phase two competition in November and
through to a phase three national team selection camp in December
where a pool of twenty two players for each squad are
identified.
Once selected, players follow a similar programme to the England
national teams with structured meet-ups building up towards peak
performance in a tournament at the end of the season. Over the
course of the season the players will participate in a series of
training camps, including an international camp, together with
British-based fixtures.
In 2007-08 British Colleges Sport, with financial support from The
Football Association, established the England Colleges Football
programme to develop students who are combining full-time studies
in further education colleges with playing a high standard of
football. The programme runs alongside the 4-year football
development strategy for FE 2008-2012 which contributes to the FA
National Game Strategy 2008-2012.
ENGLAND COLLEGES FOOTBALL - is the OFFICIAL national team for FE
college based players, run in partnership by British Colleges Sport
and The Football Association.
About the Men's Team 
Selected players follow a programme similar to that of the FA's
England Youth national teams thanks to the close links established
between the two organisations.
The national team is supported by an extensive network of
college-based staff, and in 2011-12 England Colleges Football
scouts will be appointed and deployed across all of the NCFL
divisions. Professional Club scouts, US University scouts and
non-league club scouts also regularly attend England Colleges
Football fixtures, providing a great platform for players who
impress to progress further in football.
How the Trial System works
Phase 1: Regional Trials Wednesday
October 7th 1 day trials held within the Region. A team of up
to 16 players is selected to represent the regional squad and will
go forward to Phase 2.
Phase 2: National Trials November 2nd
1 day trials are held within the Midlands, North and South regions.
Regional squads play a series of games with players observed in
match play. 33 players are then selected to progress to Phase 3
Phase 3: National Trials December
16th The top 33 players are then invited to play in a series
of games at Coventry City training ground with the purpose of
selecting the initial squad of 22 for fixtures
Phase 4: NCFL select team attend National Team
Camp before Easter
A squad of up to 16 players scouted from their involvement in the
NCFL are selected to attend a National Team behind closed doors
training camp to play against the selected England squad.
Eligibility
Most players have been involved within a professional clubs'
academy or centre of excellence programme, before being released
and pursuing their education at college. Players that trial should
have played at a level equivalent of county representative,
academy/centre of excellence or non-league club level. In
order to be eligible all players, male and female, must be
full-time students within a BCS-affiliated Further Education
College and playing within the BCS football competitions.
Official England Colleges Football Partner
Pass4Soccer - The trusted organisation to provide student athletes
with professional advice and best practice in finding a US
university or college soccer scholarship. www.pass4soccer.com
