Weetabix Wildcats & Skills Centre

Tier 1 sessions are the entry level to our player development pathway. There are no entry requirements (e.g. trial process), with bookings open to all grassroots football players looking for an additional skills session each week. Players that excel on our tier 1 sessions, can be recommended for trial on our tier 2 sessions (Player Development Centres).

Weetabix Wildcats (Girls)

A non-competitive football session for girls who want to give football a go for the very first time or want to play with other girls their own age. Most importantly, Weetabix Wildcats is all about having loads of fun and meeting amazing new friends, whilst developing technical ability on the ball.

Skills Centre (Boys)

Additional skills session for local grassroots football players. These sessions will work on different technical aspects of the game, in line with our tier 2 (PDC) coaching syllabus.

Player Development Centres

Tier 2 sessions are designed for ‘advanced’ grassroots football players, looking to develop their game further. Players will receive one session (1hr) per week, with an additional fixture programme. Coaches will work across the FA Four Corner Model (Technical/Tactical, Psychological, Physical, and Social) and our PDC coaching/playing syllabus (in possession, out of possession, and transitions) to ensure we improve the player’s overall game. Sessions are catered to work with the individual and to improve the individual as a player. Players will also receive two individual player reports per season to inform the players on their areas of strength and areas of development, with a retain/release process at the end of each season. Kit option is also available with our PDC players.
Coaches will send the Player Development Manager a trial recommendation for our tier 3 sessions, Advanced PDC (Boys) or Emerging Talent Centre (Girls) for any player that is excelling at their tier 2 sessions.

Player Development Centres (Boys)

Trial Process

Entry into our PDC (Tier 2) programme comes through our online waiting list process to be considered for a trial. Submitting a trial application form DOES NOT guarantee your child a trial. We do not accept emails, texts etc. as an application form. The waitlist for trials is now open. Please complete the waitlist application here:  

Advanced Player Development Centre (Boys)

Our Advanced PDC is designed for players looking to push on beyond grassroots football. We offer two sessions per week, with an additional fixture programme during school holidays against other similar shadow/elite/advanced squads. We also organise additional fixtures against professional academies as a showcase fixture for our Advanced PDC players to showcase their ability in front of academy coaches/scouts.

The Player Development Manager & Advanced PDC head coach will be constantly reviewing and observing players, and any players that they feel are ready for the step up for an academy trial, we will send a trial recommendation to local professional football academies. For the majority, the Advanced PDC will create unforgettable experiences in terms of training at high quality facilities, in addition to playing in the WFC kit for fixtures. Players will also receive two face-to-face development meetings to discuss their development, with a retain/release process twice a season (December & June).

Advanced Player Development Centre (Boys)

6 - 16 years old

Mondays
Borehamwood FC

Fridays
Watford FC Training Ground (St Albans)

FA Girls Emerging Talent Centre

The Football Association have allocated Watford FC CSE Trust the new ‘FA Girls Emerging Talent Centre,’ with the main aims of increasing the number of environments to support player transition from participation to excellence, creating a wide base to the pathway that’s fully inclusive and accessible to all players, and creating a diverse player pool of which to select from. Players will receive 1.5 hours of training per week, working in line with our ETC coaching syllabus to improve all aspects of the players’ game. Players will also receive fixtures during school holidays and two face-to-face development meetings across the season to discuss their development, with a retain/release process once a season (June).

Trial Process

Please visit Tier 2 for further information on how to apply for a trial.

Club Partner Programme

We’re offering junior grassroots football clubs the chance to join our free Club Partner Programme for the 2023/2024 season.

The programme aims to strengthen the relationship between junior clubs & teams and Watford FC Community Sports & Education Trust, by giving young players exclusive access to coaches, facilities and unique playing opportunities, and coaches additional support through CPD opportunities.

If you join the programme, you can take advantage of these great benefits:

• Termly CPD (Continuous Personal Development) opportunities for Level 1 (Intro to Football Coaching) and Level 2 (UEFA C) coaches. These will take place at Watford FC’s training ground on Friday evenings.
• Priority booking to our Grassroots Football Festivals (school holidays football tournaments)
• Fixture opportunities vs our Advanced PDC squads
• Tour opportunities for teams travelling from afar. This includes a training session with our Advanced PDC coaches, an organised fixture vs a local grassroots football club, and tickets for a Watford FC matchday.

In return, we ask registered clubs to actively promote our programmes via their social media accounts, such as our football holiday courses and our skills centre to name a few.

To register, please click on the link below.

CLICK HERE