Oaklands College is a Further Education establishment located in St Albans, Hertfordshire where students have the opportunity to study a wide variety of courses including A-Level and vocational qualifications while combining their further education with their ongoing football development.

The Womens Football Academy provides all students/players with the unique opportunity to develop their football as well as continuing with their education and aims to prepare female footballers for the next step in their football journey.

The programme will provide them with the opportunity to fulfil their football potential technically, physically, psychologically & socially while ensuring they also commit to furthering their education.

The Football Academy Development Pathway will form 3 levels:

1. Arsenal Women FC WSL Academy  - Elite Programme
This programme is aimed at elite players that have played at the highest level in the game aged 16-20. Players are expected to have played within an FA Regional Talent Club or Advanced Coaching Centre at Under 16s or within a high-level boy’s programme. Competition for places is high and international experience is desirable. This squad will play within the FA WSL Academy League and Cup competitions as Arsenal Women FC. Players who progress through this programme may continue to go on to play for Arsenal Women FC or other clubs in the FA WSL, FA Championship teams or possibly top 20 Division 1 University programmes in the United States.

2. Oaklands - AWFC Development Programme
Our Development programme is aimed at players that may have played at some point within an FA Regional Talent Club, FA Advanced Coaching Centre, our AWFC Player Development Centre, high level boys or girls club set up. We expect players within this programme to be aspiring to step up to the next level and have a good understanding of what it takes to be an elite athlete. This squad will play within the AoC Championship league & English College Cup competitions.  The next steps in their football career may involve playing within in the FA National and Regional Leagues, WSL Development teams as well as considering Division 1 and 2 University programmes in the USA.

3. Oaklands-AWFC Potential Programme
Our potential level programme allows players of all abilities to involved in a full-time football education programme and help develop their football abilities to the next level. This programme is aimed at players that have the drive and determination to improve. Players are expected to demonstrate a similar commitment to daily training sessions in order to help each player achieve their potential. This squad will play within the AoC Championship league & English Colleges Cup Competitions. Players may progress on to play at regional or county league level with aspirations of progressing to play higher in the Women’s Football pyramid or considering possible scholarships to the USA as another option.

Oaklands College are also planning a significant investment to their facilities, with a state-of-the-art on site residential facility which is currently under construction and will  provide exemplary on-site accommodation for future Academy students for September 2020. This will allow players from further afield to consider Oaklands College and the Arsenal Women FC Academy as a combined academic/football educational option.

All players selected to join the Womens Football Academy will be coached by experienced FA Licensed coaches from Arsenal Women FC who will be delivering across all of the three football programmes.

Players will receive a high level training programme with Arsenal Women FC Academy Coaches on 3-4 afternoons per week. This includes 10-15 hours of weekly football contact time, while receiving an extensive individualised coaching programme, physiotherapy and weekly strength & conditioning sessions, lifestyle support as well as committing to their chosen academic studies.

As part of our Talent Identification and trials process, players may be offered a place within any one of our three programmes. We do also encourage a competitive yet challenging environment where players will have the opportunity to challenge themselves to progress within the Academy Development Pathway to play within the highest programme. Ultimately, we hope that the very top players will also progress from within the Academy programme into the Arsenal Women’s 1st Team.

On completion of this form, we will contact you to inform you of any open days/evenings and also trials opportunities that you may wish to attend.

If you have any specific football related questions regarding the Academy for Sept 2020, please email arsenalwomen@oaklands.ac.uk  or if you have an academic related questions, please email marketing@oaklands.ac.uk 

For more  information, please also visit www.oaklands.ac.uk/wolves/arsenal-women or www.arsenal.com/the-club/women/women-wsl-academy