Steven Gerrard Academy
Steven Gerrard Academy
Since 2011, the Steven Gerrard Academy has operated as one of England’s most established full-time football and education programmes, graduating more than 1,500 students into the football pyramid, sport industry and university pathways. Based at the Wyncote Sports Ground in south Liverpool, with a dedicated Kirkby site sitting directly beside Liverpool FC’s AXA Training Centre, the academy carries the name and personal endorsement of Steven Gerrard MBE, one of the finest players English football has produced.
The programme is designed for players aged 16 to 19 who want to give football its best possible chance while securing a credible academic qualification. The flagship route is the two-year BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sports, Coaching and Development, equivalent to three A-Levels and worth up to 168 UCAS points. For players who want to trial the full-time environment before committing to two years, a six-month programme is available, offering the same high-performance training, competitive fixture schedule and scouting exposure as the full programme. This is a particularly effective option for international players aiming to be seen by UK clubs within a defined period.
Steven Gerrard MBE, Academy Patron
Coaching & Development
Three structured on-pitch sessions per week are supported by a gym programme, weekly competitive fixtures, GPS performance monitoring, video analysis and individual development reviews. Players in elite squads face professional academy opposition in the FA Youth Cup and National Football Youth League. What sets the academy apart is the consistency of its outcomes: its scouting network has a proven track record of placing players at EFL and semi-professional clubs, while its standing in international competition provides genuine visibility to college scouts and overseas selectors year after year.
Residential students are accommodated at the Penny Lane Hotel on Liverpool’s iconic Penny Lane, walking distance from the Mather Avenue training ground. The facility offers en-suite rooms, three meals per day five days a week, 24/7 on-site staff and full-board capacity for 27 players, a scale deliberately kept small to ensure the kind of structured, supportive daily environment that student-athletes need.
- 3 on-pitch sessions/week + dedicated gym
- Weekly competitive fixtures
- FA Youth Cup & National Football Youth League
- GPS tracking & video analysis (industry software)
- Dallas Cup & international competition programme
- Kirkby site — adjacent to Liverpool FC’s AXA Centre
- St George’s Park access confirmed
- Penny Lane Hotel residential (27 places, full-board)
Academic Pathway
BTEC Extended Diploma — Level 3
The flagship qualification. 100% coursework and practical assessment — no traditional exams. University-entry eligible. All study is coursework-based and designed to fit around the football programme.
Diploma in Sport Coaching — Level 2
A structured entry point for players whose GCSE grades don’t yet meet the Level 3 threshold. Can progress to Level 3 the following year while continuing full-time football training.
HNC in Sport — Level 4
Available to programme graduates who want to continue their football development while progressing toward degree-level study. Links to university partnerships offering full degrees alongside playing.
International Students — LILA* College Pathway
International students access the programme via LILA* College (Ofsted “Good”), which provides CAS letters for UK Student Visas, English language teaching, and University Foundation Programme pathways. Multiple nationalities represented including USA, Canada, Germany, Australia, India and Kenya.
Track record
Liverpool, Merseyside
The academy’s primary training base is Wyncote Sports Ground, Mather Avenue, south Liverpool (L18), with a second facility at Kirkby — directly adjacent to Liverpool FC’s AXA Training Centre in north Liverpool. The Penny Lane Hotel residential facility is a short walk from the Mather Avenue training ground.
Investment
Programme fees start from £35,000. A full prospectus, detailed fee breakdown and programme schedule are available on request. Prestige Football Schools works directly with the Steven Gerrard Academy admissions team and can secure all of this on your behalf, usually within 48 hours of enquiry — contact us to get started.
Interested in the Steven Gerrard Academy?
Get in touch — our advice is always free. Prestige Football Schools works directly with the Steven Gerrard Academy admissions team and can secure a full prospectus, fee breakdown and programme schedule on your behalf, usually within 48 hours of enquiry.
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