1-year football program

Established in 2003, Barking Abbey Football Academy began as a program for boys aged 16 to 18, followed by the introduction of the Girls Football Academy in 2009.

Comprehensive Football Academy Program

The Football Academy Program offers elite student-athletes a well-structured environment where they can engage in high-level training and compete in matches, all while pursuing their Level 3 academic courses.

Empowering Aspiring Footballers

The mission of Barking Abbey is to provide opportunities for footballers who may have missed out on professional scholarships (for boys) or are seeking to develop further while affiliated with regional centers of excellence (for girls). The program caters to late developers or committed players who wish to enhance their skills through daily individual training and competitive fixtures.

High-performance Opportunities

The academy is dedicated to ensuring all players have the chance to participate in tours and tournaments. For instance, the current boys' squad plans to compete in the IMG Showcase Tournament in Tampa, Florida, while the girls' squad is set to participate in the prestigious Dallas Cup in Texas.

In August 2023, 40 Barking Abbey Football Academy students (20 boys and 20 girls) enjoyed taking part in a two-week tour of Madrid, Spain. The trip allowed the boys and girls to take part in pre-season training whilst also engaging in a different cultural experience. They enjoyed cultural days out, visiting Segovia and the Royal Gardens in Madrid City Centre. The football academy also got to compete against professional Spanish academies.

Expert Coaching Staff

Barking Abbey Football Academy employs a dedicated team of UEFA 'A' and 'B' qualified coaches, consisting of three full-time staff members along with additional specialists focused on strength and conditioning, as well as physiotherapy. This robust support system aims to guide athletes in both their sporting and academic pursuits.

With a commitment to nurturing talent and providing comprehensive training and support, Barking Abbey Football Academy is well-equipped to help young athletes maximize their potential in both football and education

The programme includes:

• ‘Brand New’ state of the art FIFA approved 4G AG pitches.
• A Licence Coaches
• Technical and Tactical Development
• Full Match Programme (FCYA) (BCYL)
• Professional Teams
• Strength and conditioning programme
• Match Analysis Technology
• Full Time Physiotherapy Provision
• International Tours

Academic Pathways including:

25 A Level Courses
5 Level 3 BTEC National Courses
Coaching Qualifications/ Sports Leaders Awards/ Personal Training

Success Stories

Over 20 students progressed to professional clubs
Ex Students include Bobby Zamora QPR FC, Darren Pratley Bolton FC Kane Ferdinand Peterborough FC, Wes Thomas Bournemouth FC , Michael Hector Reading FC, Rikish Bingham Wigan FC
Over 50 students progressed to semi-professional clubs
Over 100 students progressed to University
Scholarships to NCAA American Universities

Honours

4 National Championships since 2000

5 England U18 Schools Internationals

Competitive Games

The Boys Football Academy fields two teams that compete each week. The first team plays under the semi-professional club name Barking FC in the National U19 Youth Alliance League. The development squad represents Barking Abbey Football Academy in the National Youth League U21 reserve division. In the 2022/23 season, the Boys secured the Division E championship in the National U19 Youth Alliance league, marking their fourth championship title in this league. Additionally, the Boys Football Academy also participates in the FA Youth Cup as part of their partnership with Barking FC.

The Girls Football Academy has collaborated with various professional academies over the years. After successfully developing numerous talented players and teams, Abbey Girls has chosen to focus on creating its own legacy as a leading football academy program. Currently, the Girls Football Academy competes in the Southern Premier U21 Division of the National Football Youth League. In the 2018/2019 season, they achieved a league and cup double by winning both the English Colleges League and the Premier Cup. Abbey Girls have continued their success, winning the National Youth Ladies Trophy in the 2019/20 season by defeating Gillingham FC Ladies. They have claimed the schools ESFA Cup three times and were runners-up in the Ladies Trophy Final at Loftus Road during the 2022/23 season.