Academy Coach (CIDS)

Organisation: Fulham Football Club
Salary: Competitive
Location: Fulham Football Club Training Ground, KT3 6PT
Contract type: Fixed Term
Closing date: 24 May 2026
Job Description: Salary: To be discussed at screening
Contract Type: 23-month fixed-term
Role & Development Programme: The successful candidate will divide their time between Fulham Football Club Academy Coach employment and the Premier League Coach Development Programme
Location: Motspur Park (KT3 6PT)

Join the Coach Inclusion & Diversity Scheme (CIDS)
Fulham FC, in partnership with the Premier League, is proud to support the Coach Inclusion & Diversity Scheme for the 2026/27 season. We're offering a 23-month, full-time academy coaching role to the successful candidate to support the development of the next generation of football coaches. The scheme is open to all, and we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and mixed heritage backgrounds, and women, as they are underrepresented groups amongst the coaching roles that exist across the professional game.

What’s Involved?
You’ll split your time between Academy coaching at Fulham FC and the Premier League’s accredited Coach Development Programme. You’ll gain experience across development phases and work with multi-disciplinary teams.
Your development journey will include:
Mentoring and bespoke support
Immersive learning experiences
Peer learning
Access to FA/UEFA qualifications (based on development need and subject to availability)

On successful completion of all programme elements, you’ll be awarded a Diploma in Professional Football Coaching from Leeds Beckett University.
Essential criteria:
UEFA B Licence as a minimum
No prior full-time 1st Team or Academy coaching role at a Premier League or EFL club
Experience of coaching in one, or more, of the following environments: grassroots, community, education, development centre or part-time academy football settings
FA Safeguarding Certificate, Emergency First Aid, and Enhanced DBS (to be completed prior to role commencement)
Desirable criteria:
Experience of coaching a team or group of players on a regular basis
Experience of holistic youth development activities within, or beyond, sport
UEFA A Licence or FA Advanced Youth Award
Teaching experience
You’ll bring:
A drive to coach in the professional game
Passion for player development & developmentally appropriate learning environments
Commitment to fulfilling duty of care for children, young people, and adults in healthy, high-performance environments
Resilience and commitment to high-performance environments
Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
A desire to be a role model and ambassador for diversity in the game
Preparing (‘be detail orientated when it comes to planning and preparation’)

Support the ongoing development of both Individual Learning Plans (‘ILP’) and the Age Group Plan.
Co-ordinate communication with players and families around the programme (training, fixtures and reviews).
Lead the MDT to prepare and integrate their work, creating team and individual training plans.
Lead the preparation of meaningful content for individual player reviews.
Support the preparation of content for team and individual performance education delivery.
Enrol on Premier League’s Coach Development Programme, accredited by Leeds Beckett University and work towards obtaining a Diploma in Professional Football Coaching
Complete all Diploma in Professional Football Coach project requirements to a high professional standard, and proactively engage with coaching cell and programme mentors

Delivering (‘be a uniquely outstanding deliverer to Academy players’)

Lead the delivery of team training sessions in line with the expectations outlined within the Academy Performance Plan (Technical Plan (‘TP’)) specifically integrating team and individual outcomes into practice.
Lead the delivery of individual training sessions (both inside and outside of team training sessions) in line with ILP commitments.
Lead teams and individuals through fixtures, tours and tournaments, aligning the environment design and coaching behaviours to the expectations outlined within the Academy Performance Plan (TP).
Lead the delivery of performance education sessions in line with the expectations outlined within the Academy Performance Plan (TP).

Reviewing (‘understanding that we develop through and from our everyday experiences)

Support the effective review of team training sessions in line with ‘reflection’ expectations outlined within the Academy Performance Plan (TP).
Support the effective review of individual training sessions and their impact on player-coach relationships and player performance over time.
Coordinate the review of team and individuals match performances in all games programme, tours and tournament fixtures.
Coordinate the ongoing ‘rolling’ review of each players ILP, ensuring the creation of clear action plans, involving colleagues from different disciplinary backgrounds, through weekly MDT meetings.
Record reflections on personal coaching performance (in both training and fixture environments) in line with the ‘reflection’ expectations outlined within the Academy Performance Plan (TP).
Lead the effective review of player review events and processes, ensuring improvements are actioned over time.
Support the effective review of the performance education programme for the age group.
Be accountable for own Development Action Plan, seeking feedback from peers, reflecting on own professional practice and evolving coaching skills to meet the needs of players
Reasonable adjustments are available for applicants with a disability, please contact the (club lead) for further support in applying for this role.
How to apply: Reasonable adjustments are available for applicants with a disability, please contact the (club lead) for further support in applying for this role. Please submit a two-part cover letter: Part 1 (max 500 words) to demonstrating how you fulfil the “What We’re Looking For” criteria. Please structure your responses under the following headings: The essential criteria I fulfil The desirable criteria I fulfil My desire to be a role model and ambassador for diversity in the game Part 2 (max 500 words) to answer all the following questions. Please structure your responses under the following headings: My motivations for applying for the CIDS academy coach role and Premier League Coach Development Programme How the CIDS academy coach role and development programme fits with my career ambitions How my unique expertise, and lived experience, will benefit the club and players Your CV Key Dates Application Deadline: 24 May Applications will be accepted through the Club’s vacancies page and queries should be sent to HR@fulhamfc.com Assessment Activities: Stage 1 w/c 1st June & Stage 2 w/c 8th June CIDS Induction, Lake District September 2026 (4 days)