Category 1Premier LeagueU9 to U21

Does Fulham run academy trials?

Motspur Park training ground · New Malden, south-west London

YesStraight answer

Sometimes, and Fulham is the only Category 1 club in London that says so. The academy's own recruitment page states it holds open trials, age specific and sporadic, announced online and in the area being recruited. Most players still come in the usual way: watched at their grassroots club or school, then invited for a training period. Fulham also accepts a playing CV by email, with a fixture list, and runs invitational Foundation development centres for U7 to U16 at Motspur Park.

Category1
First entryU9, scouted from U7
Open trialsSporadic, age specific
Playing CVAccepted by email
Dev centresU7 to U16, invite
BaseMotspur Park
The real routes in

4 ways players actually get in.

A training period with the age group, with mid-trial and end-of-trial feedback meetings for U9 to U12 trialists.

  1. 01
    Scouted
    Scouted, then a training period

    Scouts watch players from Under-7 upwards at local clubs and schools, in plain clothes. A recommendation goes to the recruitment department, which decides whether to invite the player for a trial period with the age group. The club always contacts your coach before your family.

    Official page ↗
  2. 02
    Official routeFree
    Sporadic open trials

    Age specific, announced online and within the area being recruited. Rare, and there is no schedule. Watch the academy trials page and the Soccer Schools course list.

    Official page ↗
  3. 03
    ReferralFree
    Send a playing CV

    The academy accepts emails with a fixture list including kick-off times and venues, date of birth, position, previous clubs, representative honours and any references. It gets hundreds a week and does not reply, but a scout may turn up.

  4. 04
    Paid programmeTermly, after invitation
    Foundation Player Development Centres

    Invitational weekday-evening sessions for boys and girls U7 to U16, with a goalkeeper school, at Motspur Park and other venues. Fill in the Player Interest Form for trial dates. Girls' development centre trials have been listed free at Motspur Park.

    Official page ↗
Where scouts watch
  • South-west London
  • Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Wandsworth
  • Surrey
  • EPPP limit: 1 hour travel U9 to U11, 90 minutes U12 to U16
If a scout calls
  1. Ask whether it is a training period with the academy age group or a Foundation development centre invitation. Different departments, different outcomes.
  2. Ask when the mid-trial feedback meeting is. Fulham runs one for U9 to U12 trialists.
  3. Check the travel rule to New Malden. One hour at U9 to U11.
  4. If you send a CV, include the fixture list. Without it there is nothing for a scout to attend.
Watch out

Three things parents get sold.

Open trials exist but are rare. Anyone advertising regular Fulham trials is not Fulham.
The academy says it cannot reply to CV emails. Silence is not a no.
Development centres are invitational coaching, not academy places.
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