Common questions

Pro Elite Academy is a football academy based in Bradford and Leeds, Yorkshire, founded in 2014. We provide football coaching for players from age 4 through to adult level, across six programmes, each with a specific focus and a defined pathway.

Our Junior Development Pathway and Boys Emerging Talent Pathway train in Bradford. Our Scholarship programmes run across four sites each - Leeds, Bradford, Ossett United and Brigshaw for males, and Brigshaw, Leeds, Guiseley School and Bradford for females. Specific venue information is confirmed upon application.

Depending on the programme, we compete in the JPL, Yorkshire Amateur League Supreme Division, FA Youth Cup, National Football Youth League, and National League Alliance.

Yes. All lead coaches hold UEFA licences. Many have experience in semi-professional and professional youth football. We don't use unqualified volunteers in coaching roles.

Yes. We partner with Ilkley Town Women FC, giving Girls Scholarship players a structured pathway into senior women's football, and with Ossett United FC (Northern Premier League Division One East), giving male Scholars and Academy players a pathway into senior men's football.

It depends on the programme. For the Junior Development Pathway and Boys Emerging Talent Pathway, you start with a free trial session. For our Scholarship programmes, you attend one of our open days across the year. For the Degree programme, you simply apply and our recruitment team will be in touch.

For the Junior Development Pathway and Boys Emerging Talent Pathway, the first step is a free training session - you come along, take part, and get a genuine feel for the environment before committing to anything.

We run a number of open days across the year for the Male and Girls Scholarships. The date for the next one is currently TBC - fill in the form on the relevant programme page and we'll send you the details as soon as they're confirmed.

No. Players from any background are welcome to apply. Whether you're at a club, between clubs, or haven't played structured football before - what matters is what we see when you come along.

Yes, though we'd encourage you to get in touch first so we can point you in the right direction. Applying to the wrong programme wastes time for everyone - a quick conversation usually makes it clear where you should start.

From age 4, with our Minis group. The Pathway runs right through to U15s, plus a dedicated Goalkeeper Clinic - players can join at any point within that window.

Tuesday evenings in Bradford. It's a training-only programme - there's no games programme at this stage - with session times staggered by age group so it fits around school.

Yes. Players who show consistent progress and the right attitude are considered for progression to the Boys Emerging Talent Pathway. The conversation is always honest and driven by what's right for the player - not by availability in the programme.

Junior players aged 7-15 who are already shining at grassroots level, or who have experience at a professional club academy. It's a step up from the Junior Development Pathway - a higher standard of training plus a full games programme in the Junior Premier League.

Tuesday evenings in Bradford, with age-specific timings, alongside a full JPL fixture schedule. Players can stay at their grassroots club while training with us - the two aren't in conflict.

We don't guarantee signing. What we do is put players who are performing in front of the right people. What happens after that depends on the player.

Pre-Scholars is a bridging programme for players aged 14-16 preparing to step up into the full Scholarship - structured training and match exposure alongside school. The full Scholarship, from age 16-18, is the full-time programme combining daily training with A-Levels or BTEC study.

Monday to Friday. Training sessions, strength and conditioning, tactical sessions, education commitments, and fixture preparation. It's a serious commitment that mirrors what a player would experience at a professional academy.

Students study for A-Levels or BTEC at Level 3 - Boys Scholarship students at our Leeds, Bradford, Ossett United and Brigshaw sites, Girls Scholarship students at Brigshaw, Leeds, Guiseley School and Bradford (with Pre-Scholars based in Bradford). We manage the timetable so football and education run alongside each other.

They run on the same student-athlete model - full-time training, education, and a competitive fixture schedule including the National Football Youth League, FA Youth Cup and National League Alliance. The Girls Scholarship has its own coaching staff and a dedicated pathway into Ilkley Town Women FC.

Boys Scholars have a pathway into the Ossett United first team, and players performing at an elite level can progress into Pro Elite United FC itself. Girls Scholars have a pathway into Ilkley Town Women FC. Others may move into the Degree programme or into coaching and development roles - every player's next step is different.

We work with a small number of partner institutions in the North of England. Details are provided during the application process. We select partners based on the quality of their sports programmes and their flexibility around fixture schedules.

Degree programme players compete in the National League Alliance and can also be selected for Pro Elite United FC. The level is genuinely competitive - this isn't recreational football fitted around a degree.

Entry requirements depend on the university partner and the degree chosen. We'll discuss this during the application process and help navigate the options if needed.

Pro Elite United FC is the pinnacle of the pathway - the squad is built primarily from Boys Scholarship players performing at an elite level. Players from outside the academy who are at the right level can also apply via the United FC page and we'll arrange a trial.

United FC competes in the Yorkshire Amateur League Supreme Division - step 6 of the English football pyramid.

There may be registration and match fees involved. These are outlined clearly during the application process. We don't hide costs.