What is the role?

This role will be responsible for identifying, developing and recruiting local players with the highest potential to Southampton FC Academy from U5s-U8s, while providing an enjoyable, challenging environment where the players have an opportunity to learn and fulfil their potential on and off the pitch.

What will you be doing?

You will work to create an innovative, competitive and attractive games programme for players, parents and staff, and provide parent education around what a high performance academy at Southampton FC will entail should their son be selected.

You will work closely with the Local Recruitment Manager U7 – U16 to organise talent ID events and festivals, and coordinate and manage an age specific group of local scouts. Along with this, you and the Local Recruitment Manager U7 – U16 will work collaboratively to organise a weekly games programme for the U6-U8 groups that provides appropriate challenge, showcases best local clubs and organisations, and exposes the players to a best v best environment.

This role will also be responsible for organising and overseeing the staffing and curriculum implementation for the U5-U8 groups based at Staplewood in conjunction with the Head of Academy Coaching methodology, along with ensuring that match day coaching aligns with the playing philosophy of the Academy.

Other Duties include:

• Leading on parent and player inductions/reviews into the Pre-Academy.


• Leading and supporting the player audit review process across U6-U10 (Academy).


• Ensuring that the IDP process is updated and monitored for each U7/U8 throughout the season.


• Liaising with all age group coaches to ensure that we provide appropriate playing opportunities for all squad players.


• Attending all training sessions (Staplewood) relevant fixtures, festivals (home and away).


• Displaying high energy in order to effectively deliver an age and stage appropriate provision and environment.


• Actively committing to a Personal Development Programme. This should include full engagement with our established CPD Programme (Core & Phase Specific), and the completion of relevant qualifications.

Person Specification:

• Strong desire to identify and work with the youngest players.


• Relevant coaching experience in an elite Academy environment.


• Experience of working in an iDT programme.


• Strong communicator, highly organised.


• Committed to the demands and working patterns of the role.


• Empathetic, emotionally intelligent person.


• Intrinsically motivated to deliver a sector leading programme.


• An aspiration to be an elite level practitioner.


• Can work to a high level on own initiative and as part of a team.


• Uefa ‘B’ Licence (desired).


• FA Advanced youth award U5-U11 (desired).

How this benefits you…

If you are successful, you can look forward to a healthy benefits package;

• Opportunity to work for a professional Football Club


• 25 days annual leave excluding bank holidays, plus your birthday off each year


• Access to x2 free match tickets for every home league game


• Discounted Southampton Football Club merchandise.


• Contributory pension scheme


• Life assurance of 2x basic salary