Performance Football

Our Men’s Performance Football programme offers a proven pathway for ambitious players, providing elite sporting development that combines with academic success.

At Loughborough University, our mission is to inspire, educate, and develop talented footballers through a culture of excellence and access to world-class facilities. Our vision is to provide life-shaping, high-performance opportunities for players as they embark on their dual career journey - combining academic success with elite sporting development.

Our Men’s Performance Football programme offers a proven pathway for ambitious players. The first team competes in non-league Step 4 (Northern Premier League Midlands Division) with fixtures in the FA Cup and FA Vase. Our teams also participate in British Universities and College Sport (BUCS) competitions.

Our coaches recruit for our teams year-round, but we also hold trials at the start of the academic year.

The university continually invests in its performance football programme, evident in facilities like our 3,500-capacity stadium and pitch complex. Performance squad members utilise these outstanding facilities and make the University Stadium pitch their home.

Led by Head Coach Jamie Clapham and supported by expert staff, our players benefit from an environment that challenges and supports them in equal measure.

Benefits

Team training sessions in an elite training environment
Weekly tailored Strength and Conditioning sessions at Powerbase Gym
Matches competing in the Northern Premier League and BUCS
Team video and data performance analysis sessions
Home fixtures played on our Premier League-standard pitch at Loughborough University Stadium
Comprehensive Performance Support, including access to physiotherapy, nutrition, psychology, physiology, and more
Performance lifestyle support to help you balance elite sport with academic success
Scholarship opportunities for athletes who demonstrate exceptional talent and commitment

Our star alumni

Kieran McKenna

BSc Sports and Exercise graduate

Football

  • Loughborough Students first team coach
  • Former Head Coach of Tottenham Hotspur U18s
  • Assistant Head Coach Manchester First Team
  • Current Ipswich Town manager

George Williams

BSc Sports Science with Management graduate

Football

  • Played for Barnsley winning League One play off and gaining promotion to the EFLY Championship
  • MK Dons 2016–17 Player of the Year and Players Player of the Year awards
  • Bristol Rovers and now currently Cambridge United in League One

Being at Loughborough is a perfect mixture of an elite and professional environment. Individual development plans constructed alongside my coaches have helped me improve my pitch performance, and I have developed my ability to meet deadlines and examination periods independently.

Matty Bowman
Sport and Exercise Psychology BSc

Coaching staff

Jamie Clapham headshot

Jamie Clapham

Head Coach

Jamie joined Loughborough after roles with England U20s, Leeds, Barnsley and Coventry. A UEFA Pro coach, he made 500+ pro appearances across the Premier League, UEFA Cup and EFL.

Headshot of Mat Stock

Mat Stock

Football Programme Manager

Mat brings university and pro football experience, including two years at Wolves as PDP Player Care Officer. A UEFA B coach, he’s also qualified in Goalkeeping and Talent ID, both L2.

Meg Willoughby wearing a grey Loughborough sport top

Meg Willoughby

Strength and Conditioning Lead

Megan holds an MSc in Strength and Conditioning. Prior to taking this role, she spent 2 years on a paid placement with Loughborough Sport with the Men’s Rugby and Women’s Cricket programmes.

Prospective students

If you are interested in joining the Performance Football programme please fill in the form below to the best of your knowledge.

The application forms are regularly monitored and someone from the football programme will look to respond to you as soon as possible.

Application form

Performance Men's Football is sponsored by