Our football and education programmes are designed to maximise student’s career development and opportunities.
To date, numerous students have moved onto higher education and employment, with opportunities including overseas scholarships in the USA, semi-pro & pro football, internships at Norwich City Football Club, and of course, employment with the Community Sports Foundation.
Here are some of our success stories:
After being released from Norwich City FC Academy, Sonny worked hard with our coaches to develop his game, alongside full-time studies. After combining local adult football with his training programme, Sonny moved to National League side King’s Lynn Town FC, before completing a dream move to Championship side Blackpool.
Photo credit: Blackpool FC
Talented goalkeeper Billy joined the Foundation’s Football & Education programme in 2017.
After impressing, he spent time training with the Canaries during the summer of 2018, and was subsequently offered a deal for the upcoming season.
Reflecting on the deal, he said: “If it wasn’t for the CSF programme, I wouldn’t be here right now. They gave me the opportunity to get an education and play regular football.”
Billy signed for Stevenage FC in the Summer of 2020.
Alice studied with our girls’ Football & Education programme for a year, before a year spell with West Ham United Women’s FC Academy.
Now back in Norfolk, she plays for Norwich City Women FC.
Keiren left the Foundation with D*D*D*, and was offered a prestigious scholarship at the Hawkeye Community College in the U.S.A.
Following outstanding dedication to his sport and studies, he was named as an All-American Collegiate in 2019 and the Hawkeye’s 2019 Male Athlete of the Year.
He is now studying and playing football at Upper Iowa University.
Photo credit: Eastern Daily Press
A Premier League Kicks participant in Gorleston, Ish was signposted to the our Football & Education programme by CSF coaches.
Achieving the programme’s necessary entry grades of 5 A-C GCSEs was a challenge for someone who didn’t see English as their first language, but with hard work, and some additional support from our team, Ish was able to do exactly that.
After two successful years with the Foundation, he joined Portuguese club S.C. Beira-Mar in 2018.
Jamie excelled during his time as a student on the programme, achieving a triple disctinction (D*) grade with us.
His passion for coaching meant that the Foundation’s apprentice programme was the next obvious step, and he is currently working with participants in our disability programme.
Once a member of our girls Centre of Excellence, Summer was among the first intake of girls in our Football & Education programme.
She joined the Foundation’s coaching team as an apprentice in 2018, and is now our Girls and Women’s Football Development Coordinator.
Ollie struggled to settle at mainstream sixth form; CSF was his third sixth form when he joined us in 2017
Through his time on the course Ollie was able to gain a real insight into the different working roles within a professional football club. Inspired by this, and paired with excellent academic achievements ((D*D*D*) on the course, Ollie landed a role at the Club’s academy as Operations Assistant.
Aedan’s journey with CSF has seen him experience almost every step of our pathway.
Once a member of our EPDC and Norwich City’s Academy, he spent two-years as a student in our Football & Education programmes, before joining our coach apprentice scheme.
He currently coaches with the Foundation.
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City’s young goalkeeper Joe Rose progressed through all tiers of our development programmes from an early age.
His journey has taken him from the PDC to the EPDC, where he was a regular for our CSF Canaries, before joining our Football & Education programme aged 16 – where he spent one year with us before joining Norwich City U18s. He recently committed with the Canaries until 2023.
When you donate a little each month, you will be helping to transform the lives of local people of all ages who need our support – giving them the opportunity to connect with others like them, feel happier and healthier in themselves, and raise their aspirations.
We have Soccer Schools running at venues across Norfolk & Suffolk, and whether participants are new to football, or are already a budding Canary superstar, the Soccer Schools programme has been put together to provide a fun, holiday activity at an affordable price.
As Norwich City Football Club's official charity partner, we help thousands of people every year achieve their goals through sport, supporting some of the most disadvantaged, disabled and talented people across Norfolk. Our vision is to support, inspire, and improve our community.
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