Academy Lead Cell Coach U15/16s

Bristol City FC.; Bristol; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A renowned football club in the UK is seeking an Academy Lead Cell Coach to lead the development of players within a specific age group. The ideal candidate will have a UEFA A Licence and experience in player-centered coaching. The role requires excellent planning, communication, and leadership skills, as well as a commitment to equality and safeguarding. Applications should be sent via email, including a cover letter and CV, by 5th November 2025.

Qualifications

• Up to date UEFA A Licence (or working towards).
• Up to date FA Advanced Youth Award (or working towards).
• Understanding of requirements to play professional football.

Responsibilities

• Lead coaching and individual development of players.
• Ensure sessions are planned against the coaching curriculum.
• Lead match day organisation and teams.

Skills

UEFA A Licence

FA Advanced Youth Award

FA Youth Award

EFAIF qualification

Job description

Overview

We are looking for a committed and exceptional person to join us as an Academy Lead Cell Coach within our team.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the coaching and individual development of players within the specific age group cell.
• Lead match day organisation and distribute team sheets for the squads in your cell.
• Lead the match day for the team(s) within the cell.
• Ensure all sessions are logically planned against the coaching curriculum, with clear learning objectives, applicable to each individual.
• Responsible for ensuring all players have comprehensive understanding of their individual tailored learning objectives applicable to both training and matches.
• Ensure all players within the cell receive comprehensive, 6 week (informal) and 12 week (formal) reviews as per the academy’s required format and clearly relate to their learning objectives.
• Lead on the continual assessment and audit of players regarding their suitability for a scholarship offer.
• Support coaching within other phases where required.
• Support IDP Coaching Sessions across the Professional Development Phase where required.
• Demonstrate the ability to adapt curriculum practice to the needs of the individual and group.

Delivery Standards

• Planning, preparation and review, dress, behaviour, referees, parents, opposition, collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, autonomy, use of appropriate learning aids to elevate coaching messages, appropriate application of safeguarding practice, take part in regular review of coaching principles.

Essential Skills

• An up to date UEFA A Licence (or working towards).
• An up to date FA Advanced Youth Award (or working towards). Ideally with the age-specific specialist element relevant to the Development Phase which they coach.
• FA Youth Award
• An up to date EFAIF qualification

Essential Competencies

• Extensive experience of developing players in a player-centred model within the schoolboy development phase of an Academy.
• Understanding of the requirements to play professional football.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of the team, and lead with own initiative.
• Be empathetic, supporting and encouraging to help others.
• Have an open, growth mindset.
• Be an honest, clear communicator.
• High Level planning and organisation.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to create a development environment.
• Ability to communicate with a variety of stakeholders.

How to apply

Applications are to be sent by email to [e-mail]. Applications should include a covering letter (max. 1 page) on the experience you have that makes you suitable for the role and should be accompanied by a current CV (max. 2 pages).

Closing date: Wednesday 5th November 2025

Due to the high volume of applicants we receive, if you have not been contacted one month after applying, please assume your application has been unsuccessful. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Safeguarding Statement

Bristol City Football Club and Academy are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to endorse this commitment. This post requires Enhanced Criminal Records Checks and may include checks against the Barred Lists, as such it is exempt from Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974). Therefore all convictions including spent convictions that have not been subject to filtering by the DBS should be declared.

Equality Statement

The successful candidate must ensure a positive commitment towards equality and diversity by treating others fairly and not committing any form of direct or indirect discrimination, victimisation or harassment of any description and to promote positive working relationships between all internal and external stakeholders. We are an equal opportunities employer.

EFL BAME Declaration

The EFL (English Football League) has introduced positive action measures aimed at tackling the under-representation of coaches and managers from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. Regulations require clubs to shortlist at least one suitably qualified BAME candidate (where an application has been received) for all roles in Academy football that require a UEFA A or UEFA B Licence.