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The Football Association has unveiled plans for eight new High Performance Football Centres based at universities across England.

The centres are aimed to support the FA's ambition of doubling participation and fan numbers of the women’s game by 2020 and will provide an educational and community-based setting to recruit, develop and deploy coaches, who will lead and inspire player development specifically in the women's and girls' game.

Centres have been confirmed for the University of Birmingham, the University of Chichester, University of Gloucestershire, a Manchester consortia of Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Manchester, Northumbria University, a Nottingham consortia of the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University, Sheffield Hallam University and St Mary's University.

Establishing a connection with the England talent pathway and FA WSL clubs, the centres will also provide talented players with an environment to facilitate both their academic and football ambitions, providing a variety of services such as, coaching, sports science and sports medicine and scholarship opportunities.  

Baroness Sue Campbell, The FA’s head of women’s football said: “The establishment of these centres is a further proof point of The FA’s commitment to transform the future of women’s football in England. 

“They will ensure aspiring coaches and talented players in all parts of the country have access to the best training and support possible, providing us with the greatest opportunity for success at all levels of international football.”

For further information about women's and girls' football go to www.TheFA.com/ForGirls

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