How do players get into the Leicester City academy?

Academy Player Registration (boys): The club's published policy on how boys join the academy, travel-time rules, and trial periods once invited. Recruitment is by scouting; the page names the recruitment contact for questions about the scouting network and development centres. Scouted through soccer schools and local football: Leicester's own advice is that soccer schools are watched regularly by academy scouts. A written approach with a player CV, stats and fixture list to the recruitment email is also accepted, though the club is candid that it is a slower route than being seen live. LCFC Women junior trials: June 2024 notice: The club's May 2024 notice invited girls in school years 3 to 10 to junior trials in June 2024. Those dates have passed. This notice does not confirm open trials for 2026/27. Ask the women's academy contact in the FA directory about the next opportunity. Girls' notice checked 5 October 2026.

What should parents do if a Leicester City scout makes contact?

Ask whether the contact is scouting for the Academy directly or for a soccer school, both wear the badge, only one leads to registration. Check the travel-time rule: one hour for U9 to U11, 90 minutes for U12 to U16, from Seagrave. If sending a written application, include the fixture list and kick-off details the club asks for, it's how they decide whether to send a scout. For girls, the ETC and academy trial windows are announced in spring for summer trials. Register early; spaces are limited per age group.

Category 1Premier LeagueU9 to U21

Does Leicester City run academy trials?

Leicester City Training Ground, Seagrave · Seagrave, north Leicestershire · Checked 7 September 2026

NoTrial information

No open trials for the boys' academy. Leicester recruits by scouting local grassroots football, and its own guidance is that joining a soccer school is the most reliable way to get noticed, since scouts regularly watch sessions there. Direct written applications to the academy recruitment team are accepted but the club is upfront that they rarely lead to a scouted game. The girls' side is more open: LCFC Women runs summer junior trials for school years 3 to 10, with dates published in advance and sign-up online.

Got a trial or a scout’s invitation? How to prepare your child →

Practise decisions before the trial: free Look First game →

Category1

First entryU9

Open trialsBoys: none. Girls: annual summer trials

BaseSeagrave, north Leicestershire

GirlsWSL academy, PGA Category 1

Recruitment and training programmes

How recruitment works

Boys: scouted from soccer schools and grassroots, or a written approach reviewed by the recruitment team. Girls: published open trial dates each summer.

01
Club programme
Academy Player Registration (boys)
The club's published policy on how boys join the academy, travel-time rules, and trial periods once invited. Recruitment is by scouting; the page names the recruitment contact for questions about the scouting network and development centres.
Official page ↗
02
Scouted
Scouted through soccer schools and local football
Leicester's own advice is that soccer schools are watched regularly by academy scouts. A written approach with a player CV, stats and fixture list to the recruitment email is also accepted, though the club is candid that it is a slower route than being seen live.
03
Club programme
LCFC Women junior trials: June 2024 notice
The club's May 2024 notice invited girls in school years 3 to 10 to junior trials in June 2024. Those dates have passed. This notice does not confirm open trials for 2026/27. Ask the women's academy contact in the FA directory about the next opportunity. Girls' notice checked 5 October 2026.
Official page ↗

Got a trial invite?

What scouts watch, what to bring, what to ask. £19 ($25)

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What to bring to an academy trial

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Boots for the surface (grass = FG, firm ground; 3G or astro = AG, artificial grass), shin pads, a ball, a named water bottle and plain kit (no rival club shirts). Check the club’s trial email first.

Bootsadidas F50 Club kids bootsMost trials are on grass or 3G. These grip on both, so your child can turn and stop without slipping.See price on Amazon Shin padsMitre Aircell shin padsMost clubs will not let a child train without shin pads. The ankle sock keeps them in place.See price on Amazon BallMitre Impel footballA few touches before the session helps nerves. Size 4 for most 8–11s, size 5 from about 12.See price on Amazon

Which ball size? See our size guide.

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By age group

Boys, U9First academy entry is U9, through scouting. Written applications are accepted but rarely lead to a scouted game.

Girls, school years 3 to 10LCFC Women Academy summer junior trials. Dates are published in spring. Sign up online. Not everyone who registers gets a slot.

Where scouts watch

Leicester and Leicestershire
Wider East Midlands, including Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire
National recruitment for Under-12s and above under current EPPP rules
EPPP limit: 1 hour travel U9 to U11, 90 minutes U12 to U16

If a scout calls

Ask whether the contact is scouting for the Academy directly or for a soccer school, both wear the badge, only one leads to registration.
Check the travel-time rule: one hour for U9 to U11, 90 minutes for U12 to U16, from Seagrave.
If sending a written application, include the fixture list and kick-off details the club asks for, it's how they decide whether to send a scout.
For girls, the ETC and academy trial windows are announced in spring for summer trials. Register early; spaces are limited per age group.

Girls' Professional Game Academy, Category 1

Leicester City girls academy trials 2026/27

Girls' academies are licensed by the FA, not the Premier League. How the girls' pathway works.

Leicester City is listed in the FA's Professional Game Academy directory. The FA also lists Leicester City as an Emerging Talent Centre provider. A centre provides extra training alongside grassroots football. Girls' information checked 5 October 2026.

Club programme

Girls' academy contact

Use the FA's Professional Game Academy directory to contact this club. Ask which age groups it currently recruits and whether it is accepting trial enquiries. A directory listing does not mean trials are open.

Official page ↗

Club programmeFree

Girls' Emerging Talent Centre contact

The FA lists this club or its Foundation in its centre directory. Ask the listed contact about ages, assessments and available places. Centre attendance can run alongside grassroots football.

Official page ↗

Club page ↗

Watch out

What to check before you agree

A soccer school session is a coaching product, not an academy trial, even when scouts are watching it.

LCFC Women's Academy attained PGA Tier 1 status in 2023; question any advertising that implies boys' and girls' recruitment work the same way, as the pathways and contacts are separate.

Category One clubs can now recruit Under-12s and above nationally, not just locally, useful context if you're weighing a long-distance approach from another region.

Sources

Compare every club: football trials UK 2026, by club, age and region.

Updated 17 October 2026. Last verified 7 September 2026. Spotted a change? Tell us so we can check the page.

Nearby

Other nearby academies

Category 1

Nottingham Forest

West Bridgford, Nottingham · U9 to U21

No open trials

Read the club guide →

Category 1

Aston Villa

Bodymoor Heath, Warwickshire, and Perry Barr, Birmingham · U9 to U21

No open trials

Read the club guide →

Category 1

West Bromwich Albion

Halfords Lane, West Bromwich · U9 to U21

No open trials

Read the club guide →

How recruitment works

Got a trial invite?

What to bring to an academy trial

By age group

Leicester City girls academy trials 2026/27

What to check before you agree

Other nearby academies

Nottingham Forest

Aston Villa

West Bromwich Albion

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