UK academies
Football trials UK 2026: academy trials by club, age and region
This page shows how football academy trials work in the UK and lists 85 clubs by region, age group and how a player gets in. Pick a club to read its full guide, with links to the club’s own pages. Looking for girls’ trials? Read the girls’ academy guide.
The short answer
- Most academies scout first. Scouts watch grassroots, school and district matches. A player is then invited to train for a trial period. Many top clubs hold no open trial at all.
- Open trials are the exception. 8 of the 85 clubs below have an open-trial route. Some others run a paid development centre, which is training, not a trial.
- Ages. First academy registration is usually at Under-9. Some clubs scout Under-7 and Under-8 players into a pre-academy group. Older players can be invited at any age.
- When. Clubs do not share one trial season. Where a club holds events, it announces dates on its own site, often a few weeks ahead. The table says “No fixed open-trial date” when we found none.
- Travel limits. Premier League rules limit how far a young player can live from the academy. See each club page.
We do not mark a trial as open unless the club’s own page gives a 2026 date. Every row shows the date we last checked it. Always confirm on the club’s website before you travel.
London
| Club | Region | Age groups | How to get in | Usual timing | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFC Wimbledon | South-west London | U9 to U18 | Development centre or scouting | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Sept 2026 |
| ArsenalGirls’ trials info | London | U9 to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Sept 2026 |
| Barnet | Barnet | U15 to U18 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Brentford | West London | U9 to U21 and B team | Development centre or scouting | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Sept 2026 |
| Charlton AthleticGirls’ trials info | South-east London and north Kent | U9 to U21 | Development centre or scouting | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Sept 2026 |
| ChelseaGirls’ trials info | London and Surrey | U9 to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Sept 2026 |
| Crystal PalaceGirls’ trials info | South London and Kent | U9 to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Sept 2026 |
| FulhamGirls’ trials info | South-west London and Surrey | U9 to U21 | Open trials | Event dates set by the club. See the club page. | 5 Sept 2026 |
| Leyton OrientGirls’ trials info | East London and west Essex | U9 to U18 | Development centre or scouting | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Sept 2026 |
| Millwall | South-east London | U9 to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Sept 2026 |
| Queens Park Rangers | West London | U9 to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Sept 2026 |
| Tottenham HotspurGirls’ trials info | North London and Hertfordshire | U9 to U21 | Development centre or scouting | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Sept 2026 |
| West Ham UnitedGirls’ trials info | East London and Essex | U9 to U21 | Development centre or scouting | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Sept 2026 |
South East and South West
| Club | Region | Age groups | How to get in | Usual timing | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFC Bournemouth | Dorset and Hampshire | U9 to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 7 Sept 2026 |
| Brighton & Hove AlbionGirls’ trials info | Sussex and the South Coast | U9 to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Sept 2026 |
| Bristol CityGirls’ trials info | Bristol | Entry age unconfirmed to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Bristol Rovers | Bristol Rovers | U9 to U18 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Cheltenham Town | Cheltenham Town | U9 to U18 | Open trials | Event dates set by the club. See the club page. | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Exeter City | Exeter City | U9 to U18 | Development centre or scouting | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Gillingham | Gillingham | U9 to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| MK Dons | Milton Keynes | U9 to U18 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Oxford United | Oxford | U6 (scouting) to U16 (published recruitment range) | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Plymouth Argyle | Devon and Cornwall | U9 to U18 | Development centre or scouting | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Portsmouth | Portsmouth | U9 to U18 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| ReadingGirls’ trials info | Berkshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire | U9 to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Sept 2026 |
| SouthamptonGirls’ trials info | Hampshire, Dorset and the South West | U9 to U21 | Development centre or scouting | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Sept 2026 |
| Swindon Town | Swindon Town | U9 to U18 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
East of England
| Club | Region | Age groups | How to get in | Usual timing | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge United | Cambridge | U9 to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Colchester United | Colchester United | U9 to U18 | Development centre or scouting | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Ipswich TownGirls’ trials info | Suffolk, Essex and the East of England | U9 to U21 | Development centre or scouting | No fixed open-trial date | 7 Sept 2026 |
| Luton Town | Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire | U9 to U18 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Sept 2026 |
| Norwich City | Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and the East of England | U9 to U21 | Development centre or scouting | No fixed open-trial date | 7 Sept 2026 |
| Peterborough United | Peterborough | U9 to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Stevenage | Hertfordshire | U9 to U18 | Development centre or scouting | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Sept 2026 |
| WatfordGirls’ trials info | Hertfordshire and north-west London | U9 to U21 | Development centre or scouting | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Sept 2026 |
Midlands
| Club | Region | Age groups | How to get in | Usual timing | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aston VillaGirls’ trials info | Birmingham and the West Midlands | U9 to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 6 Sept 2026 |
| Birmingham CityGirls’ trials info | Kings Norton, Birmingham | Entry age unconfirmed to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Burton Albion | Burton Albion | U9 to U18 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Derby County | Derby | U8 programme to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Leicester CityGirls’ trials info | Leicestershire and the East Midlands | U9 to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 7 Sept 2026 |
| Lincoln City | Lincoln | Age 8 to U18 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Mansfield Town | Mansfield | U9 to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Northampton Town | Northampton Town | U9 to U18 | Open trials | Event dates set by the club. See the club page. | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Nottingham ForestGirls’ trials info | Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands | U9 to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 7 Sept 2026 |
| Notts County | Nottingham and Mansfield | Age 8 to U16 (verified younger programme) | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Port Vale | Port Vale | U9 to U18 | Open trials | Event dates set by the club. See the club page. | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Shrewsbury Town | Shrewsbury Town | U9 to U18 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Stoke City | Trent Vale, Stoke-on-Trent | Age 8 to U21 | Development centre or scouting | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Walsall | Walsall | U9 to U18 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| West Bromwich Albion | Sandwell, Birmingham and the Black Country | U9 to U21 | Development centre or scouting | No fixed open-trial date | 7 Sept 2026 |
| Wolverhampton WanderersGirls’ trials info | Black Country and the wider West Midlands | U9 to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 7 Sept 2026 |
North West
| Club | Region | Age groups | How to get in | Usual timing | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackburn Rovers | Old Langho, Lancashire | U9 to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Blackpool | Blackpool | U9 to U18 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Bolton Wanderers | Bolton | U9 to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| BurnleyGirls’ trials info | East Lancashire and the North West | U9 to U21 | Open trials | Event dates set by the club. See the club page. | 7 Sept 2026 |
| Crewe Alexandra | Crewe Alexandra | U9 to U18 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| EvertonGirls’ trials info | Merseyside and the North West | U9 to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 6 Sept 2026 |
| Fleetwood Town | Fleetwood Town | U9 to U18 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| LiverpoolGirls’ trials info | Merseyside and the North West | U9 to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 6 Sept 2026 |
| Manchester CityGirls’ trials info | Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Yorkshire | U9 to U21 | Development centre or scouting | No fixed open-trial date | 6 Sept 2026 |
| Manchester UnitedGirls’ trials info | Greater Manchester and the North West | U9 to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 6 Sept 2026 |
| Oldham Athletic | Oldham Athletic | U9 to U18 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Preston North End | Preston | Entry age unconfirmed to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Rochdale | Rochdale | U9 to U18 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Salford City | Salford City | U9 to U18 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Stockport County | Stockport | U9 to U18 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Wigan Athletic | Wigan | U18 to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
Yorkshire and the North East
| Club | Region | Age groups | How to get in | Usual timing | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnsley | Barnsley | U9 to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Bradford City | Bradford | U9 to U18 | Open trials | Event dates set by the club. See the club page. | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Chesterfield | Chesterfield | U17 to U18 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Doncaster Rovers | Doncaster | U9 to U18 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Grimsby Town | Grimsby Town | U9 to U18 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Huddersfield Town | Yorkshire and the North West | U9 to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Leeds United | West and North Yorkshire | U9 to U21 | Open trials | Event dates set by the club. See the club page. | 7 Sept 2026 |
| Middlesbrough | Hurworth, near Darlington | Entry age unconfirmed to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Newcastle UnitedGirls’ trials info | North East | U9 to U21 | Development centre or scouting | No fixed open-trial date | 6 Sept 2026 |
| Rotherham United | Rotherham United | U9 to U18 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Sheffield UnitedGirls’ trials info | Sheffield | U9 to U21 | Open trials | Event dates set by the club. See the club page. | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Sheffield Wednesday | Sheffield | U7 (published coaching range) to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| SunderlandGirls’ trials info | Tyne and Wear, County Durham and the North East | U9 to U21 | Development centre or scouting | No fixed open-trial date | 7 Sept 2026 |
| York City | York City | U17 to U18 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
Wales
| Club | Region | Age groups | How to get in | Usual timing | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiff City | Cardiff | U7 scouting to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Newport County | Newport County | U9 to U18 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Swansea City | Landore, Plasmarl, Swansea | Age 8 to U21 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Wrexham | Wrexham | U9 to U18 | Scouting or invitation | No fixed open-trial date | 5 Oct 2026 |
Football trials UK: common questions
How do football academy trials work in the UK?
Most professional club academies in England recruit by scouting. Scouts watch grassroots, school and district matches, then invite a player to train with an age group for a trial period. A smaller number of clubs hold open trials or development centres that families can book. Each club page on this site says which route that club uses.
What age do academy trials start?
First academy registration is usually at Under-9. Some clubs run scouted pre-academy groups for Under-7 and Under-8 players. Under-9 (U9) means under 9 years old on 31 August, so the player is 8 for most of the season. Entry ages differ by club, so check the age column and the club page.
Can I find football trials near me?
Use the region groups on this page to find academies near you. Premier League and EFL academies have travel limits, so a family usually has to live within about one hour of the club for younger ages and 90 minutes for older ones. Many local searches also show trials for grassroots clubs. Those are different from academy trials.
Are football academy trials open in 2026?
Only a few clubs run open trials. We list 8 clubs with an open-trial route, and we do not show a trial as open unless the club’s own page gives a date. Dates change often. Open the club page and check the official source before you travel.
Do girls have academy trials too?
Yes. Girls’ academies are licensed by the FA, and some clubs also run Emerging Talent Centres for younger players. 27 club guides here include a girls’ section. Read the girls’ academy guide for how the pathway works. Girls’ academy guide.
Do holiday camps or soccer schools count as a trial?
No. Camps and soccer schools are paid coaching courses. They are not a route into an academy unless the club page says otherwise.
Table last updated from club pages checked up to 5 Oct 2026. We add clubs as we check their information. Sign up for updates. Practising at home? See the best football rebounders for kids.