A Message From the EPP Manager
Once again, we have faced challenging circumstances and significant change.
Throughout the summer, our staff have worked relentlessly behind the scenes with one clear purpose: to create an outstanding elite football and education programme in the heart of Somerset that puts the player first.
In many ways, those challenges have given us an opportunity to reassess exactly what an elite programme should be, focusing not on the badge or organisation it is attached to, but on what it actually provides for the young person walking through the door every morning.
And that has shaped everything we are building.
One of the greatest strengths of our programme is that we are not solely attached to the interests or pathway of one specific football club. We see this as a huge advantage.
Football development is not linear. One player may be suited to one club, another player to a completely different environment. Some will progress into professional academies, some into senior non-league football, some into university programmes or scholarships overseas, and others may discover that their future lies in coaching, analysis, physio, strength and conditioning, or another area of the industry.
Our approach is simple: we don’t need to exaggerate our pathways or make promises about where a young player’s journey will lead. Instead, we will be honest about the opportunities available and work relentlessly to create genuine opportunities based on each individual’s development, ability and ambitions.
The football industry can be incredibly rewarding, but it is also extremely competitive. We will measure the quality of our programme by the standard of our daily environment, the development of our players and the genuine opportunities we are able to create.
The word elite is used frequently in football. For us, it has to mean something. The word Elite isn’t simply a title. It represents the standards we expect our programme to demonstrate every day through our coaching, environment, behaviours and opportunities.
For us, an elite programme means providing players with the highest possible standard of coaching and support, and we believe we have this. Our students will work within an environment led by highly qualified, experienced coaches who understand both player development and the demands of the modern game. Our responsibility is to challenge players technically, tactically, physically and psychologically while never losing sight of the individual behind the player.
We have some real talent joining us this year and we are so excited to start next week!
We don’t just want students to leave us with a qualification and memories of playing football.
We want them to leave with skills, experiences, contacts, confidence and a clear understanding of where they can go next.
We are particularly proud that this philosophy is already visible in our own organisation.
Over recent years, numerous young people who have progressed through our programmes have subsequently returned to work within them. They are now developing the next generation.
Others have progressed into university, employment, football opportunities and experiences overseas. For us, that is progression.
The work continues within this new chapter..
Jamie Phillip
EPP Manager