ESPFA Carlton Town Academy

Carlton Town are partners with the Education and Semi-Professional Football Academy (ESPFA) who have provided education and football study programmes at non-league clubs across the UK for 16-19 year olds as an alternative to traditional college education for the last eight years.

The programme is part of ESPFA Nottinghamshire, one of 12 regions in the national programme. Students joining the ESPFA full-time programme will study for a BTEC in Sport Level 3 Extended Diploma (equivalent to three A-Levels), train three times a week with UEFA/FA licensed coaches and represent Carlton Town in the ESPFA league and cup competitions with all games being filmed and taking place at the main stadia of all clubs involved.

Enrolled students also have the opportunity to experience the world of sport with coaching, teaching, photography, filming, media editing, business, hospitality, journalism, physiotherapy and podcasting with the football club and the ESPFA.

There are a number of pathways available on the football side with 70+ ESPFA students having made their first team debut since 2014 with over 200 ESPFA students graduating to higher education such as university, US scholarship and the programme’s own bespoke degree course.

Applications are open for current Year 11 students for a September 2022 start and current Year 10 students for a September 2023 start.

Interested applicants should register at espfa.co.uk/register and the ESPFA recruitment team will be in touch to invite you down to the many taster days that are available throughout the year.

Below are a number of information videos on what the ESPFA programme is about.

• ESPFA Awards Show 2021 – https://youtu.be/0xELCLGE-zA
• STUDY at the ESPFA – https://youtu.be/OQBDTy4LeC4
• TRAIN at the ESPFA – https://youtu.be/l_OHUrNcgvk
• REPRESENT your LOCAL CLUB – https://youtu.be/VN7pVt2fGJo
• MEDIA EXPERIENCE at the ESPFA – https://youtu.be/btzNM24jjBM