RIASA (Richmond International Academic and Soccer Academy) was the original soccer academy to arrive in the UK, offering International students the chance of developing their game whilst earning a top class degree.
The Director and co' founder of RIASA, Mark Ellis, played professional football in the UK for 10 years. During the summer months, when not playing professionally, Mark trained with the Tampa Bay Rowdies, both to keep fit and because he loved the US.
We ran a trial programme initially and the rest, as they say, is history. In that first year RIASA had 23 students, mainly from the US. As time has moved on the programme has become much more diverse with student athletes from several continents around the world with a steady increase in cohort sizes.
The programme is growing in leaps and bounds. In 2023 we are proud to say we are in the 13th year of operation. We have seen so many talented student-athletes develop their game and earn a top class dual accredited US/UK degree.
