Men's Football

Outstanding football performance academy

As a football player in Bishop Burton Sport's academy, you will access a high-quality training programme, which is balanced with your academic commitments.

Our first and second teams train as one squad as part of a full-time training programme, which runs alongside the educational course of your choice.

The success of Bishop Burton Sport's football programme is demonstrated by the number of players who have come through the system and are now playing regular semi-professional football, combining this with their training and studies at the college.

With fantastic facilities, high-level coaching and professional partners, there is no better place than Bishop Burton Sport to play football.

2023 National Champions

Our first team were crowned National Champions in 2023. They compete in the ECFA (English Colleges Football Association) Premier League, which is the highest standard of college football in the country. Having won the League in 2020, they reached the finals in 2022, securing our place as the number one college for football in the north.

The second team were also league champions in 2020, securing promotion to the Yorkshire and Humber Championship, which is the highest level they can compete at.

Bishop Burton Mens Football National Champions 2023

Football development academy

In addition to our performance academy, we run a development academy encompassing our third and fourth teams.

As a player in the development academy, you will be coached by UEFA B licenced coaches who are supported by students from our football coaching academy. This dedicated staffing structure has been fundamental to player development and our recent on-field success.

Our third team were promoted in 2020 after winning their league and now competes in the top league within the Association of Colleges (AoC) category 3 structure against other local colleges’ first teams. Our fourth team also compete within the category 3 structure.

As a player in our development academy, you will have the opportunity to transition into our performance academy based on the rate of your progression and academic performance.

Entry requirements

All prospective football academy players must have applied for a course at Bishop Burton College to be eligible for selection. Sporting selection is undertaken through a pre-season trial.

Academy players will have had regional or county honours, professional academy experience or have been playing at a high standard of youth or adult football.

Meet the coaches

James Bennett

Director of Football

James, who manages the first team, is a UEFA A Licence coach and former professional footballer with Hull City, Lincoln City and Darlington. James has also played semi-professional football for Bridlington Town, North Ferriby United, Scarborough Athletic and Pickering Town. James also coaches for Hull City Academy in the Youth Development Phase as Under 15s Lead Coach.

Andy Norfolk

Head Football Performance Coach

Andy is a UEFA B Licence coach and former apprentice footballer at Rotherham United. Andy is currently playing semi-professional football for Bridlington Town, where he is captain having made over 200 club appearances.

Our partnership with Hull City Football Club

Bishop Burton College is the home of the Hull City Academy.

Hull City’s under 23s and 18s are based on our campus and we also house the club’s foundation and youth development phases on an evening.

As a college, we have a strong relationship with the football club and the Head of Academy Coaching, Richard Naylor. We are an integral part of Hull City’s exit strategy by providing an alternative pathway for their released players at under 16s.

Richard and his staff regularly watch our college first team matches on a Wednesday in the ECFA Premier League, giving our players an opportunity to impress. We also have a number of annual in-house friendly matches between our football academy and the club's under 18s.

Our top-performing college players have also recently had the opportunity to train with the under 18s and 23s as part of the partnership.

Football scholarships

Scholarships are also available to aid and support the right candidates to succeed.

Football academy player training on 3 G pitch

Meet the players

Kieron Walker

Subject Sport

Kieron Walker was influential in our football academy’s success in 2019/20, starting every match in our title-winning season. His excellent performances for Bishop Burton earned him an international call-up for England Colleges.

Matthew Stanford

Subject Sport

Matthew joined our Category 1 Football Programme at Bishop Burton College in July 2019 and he has developed significantly since then. He played a fundamental role in our success as a team in 2019/20, starting the majority of games in our English Colleges Football Association (ECFA) Premier League title-winning season.

In 2021/22 Matthew progressed from college level study to University Centre Bishop Burton's HNC in Sport and Exercise Science, whilst still accessing our Category 1 football programme as a third-year player.

Stay focused by living on campus

Living in Bishop Burton College's student accommodation is a great way to stay dedicated to your football training and studies, whilst giving you the chance to get to know your team and make other friends too.

You'll be a short walk to our 3G pitch, grass pitch, academic facilities and our gym, which you'll have free access to as a residential student.

College Level Accommodation University Centre Accommodation

How to apply

Players can apply for any course at Bishop Burton College and still be considered for the football academy.

To express an interest in joining our academy, email our Head of Football, James Bennett: james.bennett@bishopburton.ac.uk