Does Queens Park Rangers run academy trials?
Heston training ground · Heston, west London · Checked 5 September 2026
Not for the academy. But QPR in the Community Trust has run genuinely open trials for its Advanced Development Programme, for school years 2 to 6, at venues like Willesden, with successful players starting the following week. The academy itself recruits through a network of volunteer and part-time scouts covering pre-academy and foundation-phase football across west and north-west London. The club has said openly that it may be the most realistic route to first-team minutes of any London academy, and it is exploring Category 1.
Got a trial or a scout’s invitation? How to prepare your child →Practise decisions before the trial: free Look First game →
How recruitment works
Community trust open trial into the development programme. Academy trial by invitation after scouting.
- 01Advanced Development Programme open trial
Run by the club's community trust through QPR Soccer Schools. Advertised as open trials, outfield and goalkeepers, mostly small-sided games, for school years 2 to 6. Successful players are invited into the programme.
Official page ↗ - 02Scouted at grassroots in west London
Volunteer and part-time academy scouts cover pre-academy and foundation-phase fixtures and tournaments in assigned areas, logging players into the club database. Players who meet the standard are recommended for a trial.
- 03Older players released by Category 1 clubs
QPR recruits actively in the 14 to 18 bracket and has said it targets Category 1 releases. Relevant if your child is released from a bigger academy at 14 to 16.
- 04Coach referral
Grassroots coaches can put players forward to academy recruitment. Expect a scout at a fixture first.
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.
Which ball size? See our size guide.
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- West London
- Hounslow, Ealing, Brent, Hammersmith and Fulham
- Harrow and Hillingdon
- EPPP limit: 1 hour travel U9 to U11, 90 minutes U12 to U16
- Ask whether it is the community trust's Advanced Development Programme or the academy. The trust runs the open trials, the academy does not.
- Check the travel rule to Heston. One hour at U9 to U11.
- If your child was released by a Category 1 club, QPR is worth a direct approach through your coach. The club says it looks for exactly that.
- Ask what the Category 1 plans mean for your child's age group. Status changes can change squads.
What to check before you agree
- QPR Soccer Schools, Advanced Development Programme trials listing ↗
- Premier League Youth Development Rules (travel limits, registration) ↗
Compare every club: football trials UK 2026, by club, age and region.
Updated 17 October 2026. Last verified 5 September 2026. Spotted a change? Tell us so we can check the page.