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ECFA Accredited Colleges

ECFA Accredited Colleges are part of a grant funding initiative, which AoC Sport runs in partnership with the Football Association (FA). In 2020, The ECFA Accredited Colleges model replaced its predecessor, the FA College Grassroots Hub programme. The accredited colleges have access to a range of services to develop football provision. These accredited services include workforce development opportunities and access to funding opportunities to develop collaborative football projects.

Apply to become an ECFA Accredited College using our online form.

These standards are achieved through a collaborative approach involving a range of football stakeholders including County FAs, affiliated clubs, active partnerships and local charities.

All ECFA Accredited Colleges are expected to recruit one male and one female student to become an ECFA Activator to facilitate and deliver activity, with the overarching aim of engaging internal participants such as college students and external participants such as the local community.

In 2023/24, our 104 Accredited Colleges engaged over 17,500 recreational participants and 147 Football Activators. Our aim for the ECFA Accredited College model is to increase our capacity to support more institutions to develop their football provision.

If you are an AoC Sport member college and would like more information about becoming an ECFA Accredited College or have a question about the application please contact Joshua Stockdale, National Football Development Officer at AoC Sport.

The process to becoming an ECFA Accredited College are:

  1. complete the application form
  2. adhere to minimum operating standards
  3. complete a six months health check
  4. submit your end of year scoreboard

The minimum operating standards are:

Participation - provide regular recreational football provision for students

Competition - enter an AoC Sport competition

Workforce - utilise ECFA learning and development opportunities

Community - establish a working relationship with your County FA

Recreation - offer at least one female-specific recreational opportunity

The services you gain access to as an ECFA Accredited College:

  • Three ECFA Activator training days as part of the Student Leadership Programme.
  • Three funded activator roles.
  • ECFA Activator Nike kits.
  • Access to ECFA funding opportunities.
  • ECFA Development Framework.
  • Online development platform.

Click here to view the list of ECFA Accredited Colleges.

ECFA