A Transformational Experience for North American Club Leaders

This October, inspiresport, in partnership with SOCCER.COM, delivered another outstanding Club Leadership Trip, welcoming club leaders from across North America to the United Kingdom for an immersive week of high-level professional development. The program offered unparalleled access to Premier League and EFL academy environments, providing hands-on exposure to leadership models, player development systems, and performance frameworks inside some of the world’s most respected clubs. The cohort got to visit Category One, Two and Three academies to understand the differences in leadership, management and coaching provision at each.

The trip began in Manchester, where participants explored the standards of leadership and management within the English game. Leaders were guided through the process of building their own Academy Performance Plans and engaged in a full-day workshop with Premier League staff reviewing coaching philosophies, curriculum design, and coach-development pathways. During their opening days, the group also attended Manchester City vs. Everton, enjoying world-class hospitality as they gained firsthand insight into the Premier League matchday experience.

Throughout the week, the cohort continued to expand their understanding of high-performance environments. At Stockport County FC, CEO Simon Wilson and Academy Manager Damien Allen shared how innovation, alignment, and best practice drive success across the club structure. At Fleetwood Town FC, Academy Manager Jack Higgins and his staff hosted an in-depth visit, complete with a U21 fixture and integrated analysis session, allowing club leaders to study change management, high-performing teams, and player engagement from multiple perspectives.

The group also spent time at the EFL headquarters, working with the Youth Development and Education teams to understand the operational and developmental challenges facing the English system, while collaborating on solutions that could be applied in North America. A workshop led by FA Coach Educator and former Blackburn Ladies Head Coach Gemma Donnelly provided further perspective on the women and girls’ game, diving into value-based leadership and how those principles can guide staffing structures and long-term planning. The day concluded with attendance at Blackburn Rovers vs. Sheffield United, adding matchday context to the learning.

Toward the end of the trip, participants experienced an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Manchester City’s Category 1 Academy, observing how one of the world’s most advanced development systems supports both staff and players. The cohort then took part in an interactive session with leadership educator Stuart Jones, consolidating the week’s insights and translating them into personal leadership philosophies linked directly back to their North American club environments.

The final day included a visit to Everton FC, where the group observed U18 and U21 training sessions and spent time with [Interim] Academy Manager Carl Darlington to understand how Everton’s strategic approach continues to produce the next generation of professional talent.

By the conclusion of the program, participants were equipped with an enhanced understanding of high-performance leadership, academy design, coach-development structures, and long-term player-pathway strategy. They returned home with practical tools, professional networks, and renewed clarity on raising standards within their own clubs, marking another highly successful year for the inspiresport x SOCCER.COM Club Leadership Trip.

If you would like to register your interest in future trips like these, please click here.