Football Education Programme
Post-16 football and a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport, at Warrington Rylands FC
Registering interest now
The programme is in pre-launch. Open evenings, trials and assessments are still to come. Register your interest to hear first when dates, the partner college, venue and fees are announced.
A full-time post-16 pathway in football and sport
Warrington Rylands FC is developing a brand-new Football Education Programme for ambitious young players aged 16–19. The full-time programme provides a professional environment where players can prepare, perform and progress both on and off the pitch — combining high-quality coaching with a recognised post-16 qualification.
It sits within the wider Warrington Rylands FC pathway, so participants get to develop in a real senior football club environment while continuing their education alongside training.
What the programme includes
- →High-level football coaching delivered by qualified staff
- →Competitive weekly fixtures
- →Strength and conditioning support
- →Individual player development programmes
- →Personal development opportunities
- →Exposure to senior football within the Warrington Rylands pathway
- →Education alongside football training
The qualification: BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport
Students work towards a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport over two years. It's a recognised post-16 qualification that opens doors to higher education and a wide range of careers in football and the wider sports industry. The classroom side of the programme runs in parallel with daily football training, so academic and sporting development reinforce each other rather than compete for time.
Where it can take you
By combining academic learning with practical sporting experience, the programme is designed to equip students with the skills, knowledge and confidence to keep going — whether their ambitions sit inside the game or in the wider sports industry. Past students of comparable programmes have progressed in directions including:
- ●Playing football full-time or part-time
- ●Coaching
- ●Higher education
- ●Sports therapy
- ●Sports analysis
- ●Sports business
- ●Teaching
- ●Media and marketing
- ●Officiating
More than football
Football development sits at the heart of the programme, but the educational and personal development side carries equal weight. Players join a senior football club's day-to-day life — training sessions, matchdays, exposure to the first-team environment — and combine that with structured study, individual development plans and personal-development sessions. The aim is to leave the programme with a Level 3 qualification, two seasons of competitive football, and a clearer sense of where to go next.
How this differs from the 7–14 Centre of Excellence
The Football Education Programme is a separate, full-time post-16 pathway. The Centre of Excellence is a Friday-evening junior coaching programme for players aged 7–14. The two are different programmes for different age groups — this page is about the post-16 Football Education Programme only.
Register your interest
Interest in the programme is growing and we're encouraging players and parents to register early. By registering you'll be among the first to receive information on:
- →Open evenings
- →Programme details — including the partner college, venue, schedule and fees as they're confirmed
- →Future trials and assessments
- →Official launch announcements
Opens the Warrington Rylands FC interest form on Google Forms.
Frequently asked questions
→Is this a BTEC Sport course in Warrington?
Yes. Students on the Football Education Programme work towards a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport over two years, delivered alongside their football training within a senior football club environment.
→Is it a post-16 football college programme?
Yes. It is a full-time post-16 pathway for ages 16–19 that combines daily football training with a recognised Level 3 qualification — the same shape as a football college programme, run from a senior non-league club.
→What ages is the programme for?
Ages 16 to 19. It is designed for ambitious young players who want to continue their football and educational journey full-time after Year 11.
→When does the programme start?
The intake date has not yet been announced publicly. Register your interest to be among the first to hear about open evenings, trials and assessments.
→Where is training held?
The training venue will be announced as part of the programme launch. Register your interest to receive details directly when they are confirmed.
→How much does the programme cost?
Fees haven't been published yet. Final programme costs — and any funding or bursary arrangements — will be shared with everyone who has registered interest as soon as the launch information is finalised.
→How is this different from the 7–14 Centre of Excellence?
The Centre of Excellence is a junior coaching programme for players aged 7–14 that runs alongside school. The Football Education Programme is a full-time post-16 pathway combining daily football training with a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport. They are separate programmes for different age groups.
→Do I have to play for Warrington Rylands to join?
No. The programme is open to any ambitious player aged 16–19 who wants to combine full-time football with a recognised education qualification, regardless of which club they currently play for.
Have a question that isn't covered above?
Contact the club