Our Story

IHM Football Boarding Schools was started in 2005 by Mick Brennan and Peter Hayes. Mick is a UEFA B qualified football coach, Pete is a DELTA qualified English language teacher.

Mick and Pete wanted to bring together education with professional football coaching so that young players from around the world could be the best that they could be. Both as a footballer and a student.

So, they founded a British Council accredited English language school and a year round professional football academy. Their English language students do well at the IELTS exam and their footballers gain trial opportunities with professional football clubs. IH Manchester makes this happen.

The football boarding school employs football players with excellent professional experience and coaching qualifications. David Raven played for Liverpool FC and is a UEFA A licensed coach. Mick Bennett played for Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League in his professional career.

IH Manchester Football Boarding Schools gives equal importance to academic achievement as it does to developing football ability and presenting professional playing opportunity.

It is incredibly difficult for a non UK citizen to play professional football in the UK. So, that is why IHM has built links with clubs in Spain, Portugal and Germany. IHM players are also able to apply for US soccer scholarships which can lead to professional football opportunities in the USA.

IHM Football Boarding Schools have built up a large network of scouts and contacts in the world of professional football which allows it to direct players of exceptional ability to an appropriate club. With no exclusive allegiance to one club, players can benefit from a broad and varied professional Club pool for progression.

All student players attend classes in the morning and have professional football coaching in the afternoon. IHM is entered in the local FA college league and also organises regular friendly match play against other college and academy teams. We also bring in guest speakers from the world of football and take our student players to local professional clubs for Train and Play coaching days. Players get regular tutorials and progress reports.