Our full-time Football Education programme is delivered in association with Pro:Direct Academy Peterborough. Pro:Direct Academy are the biggest independent football academy in the UK with over 20 sites. Pro:Direct has a proven track record of delivering high quality education and football.
- We won the National Cup Final in 2025! – A great achievement within a league of over 400 schools/colleges around the country
- We have been running successful sports academies since 2011
- Our academy staff and coaches have years of experience within the industry making them experts in their field
- Play and train like a pro with our UEFA Licensed coaching
- Great facilities including home and away changing rooms
- Play and train on a 4G pitch
- Opportunities to attend Pro:Direct Soccer media events
- Represent Pro:Direct Academy in exclusive Nike Kit
- Minibus collection from Long Buckby Train Station to and from the academy plus on Match Days
- Opportunities to play in the PDA select 11 and showcase games
- Opportunities to train at top-class facilities such as St Georges Park
- Excellent progression guidance and support
COURSE INFORMATION
Our Football Education programme has two routes: NVQ and BTEC.
- NVQ Level 2 Diploma in Sports Studies
Course content includes: Anatomy and physiology for sport, psychology for sport performance, planning and leading sport activities, planning and running a sport event, nutrition for sports performance, injuries in sport, business skills in sport and technical and tactical awareness in sport.
- NVQ Level 3 Active IQ Diploma in Coaching Sports
Course content includes: Planning and coaching multisport activity sessions, working with children and young people in a coaching environment, principles of anatomy, health and safety for coaching, managing personal and professional development and nutrition and hydration
- BTEC Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Sports Coaching & Development
Course content includes: Careers in the sport and active industry, health, wellbeing and sport, self-employment in sport and physical activity, sports development, practical sports application and developing coaching skills
- BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sports Coaching & Development
Course content includes: Completing a research project, anatomy and physiology, technical and tactical skills, fitness testing, rules and regulations and applied coaching skills
Both routes prepare you for a career in Sport or Coaching. Some former learners now play for professional football clubs in the UK or coach in the USA. Other popular routes after completion of these courses include apprenticeships, higher education, teaching, training and semi-professional contracts.
Additional information
Trial Day
Interested in visiting the Academy and finding out more about the courses, staff and facilities? Book your space at our upcoming Trial Day:
- Wednesday 16th April (10am – 3pm)
- Wednesday 28th May (10am-3pm)
Financial Support
Apply here for financial support.
UEFA Coaching
The programme includes 10 hours of professional coaching per week with our UEFA A and B licensed coaches, as well as support with Maths and English if needed.
Progression Routes
- Chance to play in the US through a scholarship, we have talk throughout the year from Soccer Assist who are an external party that assist you with applying for schlorships
- Semi-Professional contracts – we have had many previous learners go on to play professional football
- University, our programmes offer UCAS points allowing you to progress on to a course at university after completing your courses with us (these vary depending on the course)
Contact us
Daventry Sports Park, Browns Lane, NN11 4NS
Telephone number:
0800 028 1576
Testimonies
“At Pro:Direct there are so many opportunities. The Pro:Direct showcase games at St. Georges Park have a lot of professional clubs looking to sign and gather new plays, it is where I first had some interest from clubs. Then, I got chosen for the showcase game against Brentford. Now I have signed a two-year scholarship with Brentford FC”
“I am going on to play in America for 4 years after completing my course at Northampton, if I had never had the opportunities given to you at Pro:Direct I never would have got to this stage, I can’t recommend starting your journey at a PDA site enough.”
“If you have a love for football and want to expand your knowledge further then it’s a great place to start as the staff are very supportive and extensive in their football knowledge”
