Academy News

My last few months on the football programme have been bittersweet

"My last few months on the football programme have been bittersweet." Elijah was unlucky recently. Whilst back home in Kenya over the Easter holiday, he suffered a broken toe whilst playing football. This meant him having to miss full...

A mother’s perspective: “For my son, it was very important to train and play football at a professional level: professional training and coaching.”

Does this sound familiar to you?"Mum, dad! I think I want to try and make it as a professional footballer. It's what I've always wanted to do!"The decision to send your child to school in the UK is a huge thing to contemplate for any parent. However, when...

“You are only limited by what you believe you can do.”

This week British Cycling coach, Oli Suart, came to deliver a talk and a fitness training session to the IHM Football Academy squad at Ellesmere College. The title of the workshop was "World Class Expectations".Oli works with elite athletes across many...

“Having football and studying at the same time, it keeps me motivated”

Rasheeq is aged 18 years and comes from Malaysia. He has been enrolled on the A level course at Abbey College Manchester since September 2018. Rasheeq accepts that studying for 3 A levels with classes and tutorials every morning and course work and essays...

“The season’s been really good, lots of ups, lots of positives.”

Director of Football, Mick Brennan, looks back on the highlights of this season with IHM Head Coach, Matt Lowe and IHM at Ellesmere College, David Raven. Mick interviews both coaches to get their views on what has gone well, lessons to be learned and plans...

“A player you would like in your team, giving positive support for all of his team.”

A positive attitude and some humility make a young player a much more desirable prospect for a coach or a scout. Understanding how a player reacts to constructive feedback is paramount when it comes to evaluating the potential of a young player. At a Showcase event or...

“The lads ask me questions, they want to learn.”

Head Coach at IHM Ellesmere College, David Raven, talks to Director of Football, Mick Brennan, about how the season has gone and what he hopes for the new season ahead. David is extremely proud of the young players in the squad and how they implement in a game what he...

“I want to make a professional career out of football.”

Saranga is studying for his A levels in Year 13 at IHM Football Academy at Ellesmere College. He has been training with us for two years now, since the start of the academic year in September 2017. Saranga knows exactly what he wants and how he needs to get it....

“The only certainty when becoming a footballer is that, at some point in the future, you will become an ex-footballer.”

Duncan Watmore What have all these professional football players got in common? Duncan Watmore, David Wetherall, Barry Horne, Steve Palmer, Shaka Hislop, Iain Dowie, Gudni Bergsson, Oliver Bierhoff. Yes, that’s right; they are all university educated to first degree...

Iain Sankey, PFA Regional Coach Educator, paid us a visit last week

Last Wednesday the IHM squad had a visit from a very experienced coach / educator from the PFA. The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) was formed on 2nd December 1907 and is the world’s longest established professional sportsperson’s union. The aims of the...

David Lowe – Guest Coach/Speaker

David Lowe, the head coach at Championship side Blackburn Rovers Football club, visited the academy last week to share his experience, talk to the players and lead them in a session at our new training facility. David’s career began at Northwest side Wigan athletic,...

Dave Bailey – Guest Speaker

Manchester United Football Scout Puts Players Through Their Paces The IH Manchester Football Academy students at Ellesmere college welcomed David Bailey, Manchester United Assistant Lead Phase Scout, to chat about what clubs look for in emerging talent followed by a...

Preparing for a showcase event / football trial – part 1 nutrition

Peter Hayes, Director of IH Manchester Football Academy shares important advice about preparing yourself for a Showcase event / football trial / match day. Peter explains: "Hi there everybody, this is Pete from IH Manchester Football Academy and I just wanted to bring...

More Success! Will training with Crewe Alexandra FC

Following the showcase event a few weeks ago Will Brookshaw has been invited to train with the academy at Crewe Alexandra Football Club. Will who is 14 and one of the goal keepers at the academy will now train and be assessed by the Crewe Coaching staff and pit...

IH Manchester Football Academy at Ellesmere College Hosts Showcase Day

The footballers of tomorrow were on display this week as scouts came to Ellesmere College for a special showcase event. The event, hosted at the college through its partnership with IH Manchester, a private footballing academy, saw more than 50 players put through...

Another Guest Session From A Current Pro Player!

This week saw another pro player come into the academy at Manchester to share his experience and knowledge with the young players. Brian Wilson, currently a first team player at league one side Oldham Athletic, visited the academy to lead the boys in a series of...

Academy team visits St George’s Park

This week the academy players visited the training ground of the England football team St George’s Park. Academy players were warmly welcomed by the staff and given an exclusive behind the scenes tour of the impressive £105 million, 330 acres training facility. St....

Michel’s Football & Academic Success

Michel Bou Farah studies and trained with the IH Manchester international Academy during the 2014/2015 & 2015/2016. A dedicated player and student Michel was always one to work hard and try to improve by that small percentage each week, his aim was to make a...

Premier League Ace Frank Sinclair Visits Academy

Former Premier League defender who has worked under the likes of Glenn Hoddle, Martin O’Neill, Gianluca Vialli and Ruud Gullit visited our academy at Ellesmere College to oversee training and pass on his experiences to academy players. Frank Sinclair, who helped...

Ex Manchester United super star Dwight Yorke with IH Manchester football academy players!

Here at the football Academy we are always trying to teach our players that you just never know who is watching, whatever the session or game. This week the boys have a great opportunity to train at one of Manchester United’s famous training grounds, the Cliff. The...