START AN ACADEMY
Turn your football experience into a professionally structured academy business.For current or former professionals and experienced coaches ready to establish their own football business.
PROSPX ACADEMY LICENCE
YOU’VE BUILT A CAREER IN FOOTBALL.
NOW BUILD WHAT COMES NEXT.
Build or grow your own football academy with coaching, commercial and operational systems developed through decades of professional experience and real academy business growth.
COACH. BUILD. BRAND. RUN. GROW.
CHOOSE YOUR STARTING POINT
WHAT ARE YOU BUILDING?
The Blueprint and the licence application have different jobs. Explore freely, then choose the next step that fits where you are now.
GROW MY ACADEMY
Strengthen the business you’ve built and create the foundations for faster, more sustainable growth.For existing academy founders and independent coaching providers developing operations, recruitment and expansion potential.
Interested, but still exploring?Start with the free Academy Growth BlueprintReady for a serious business conversation?Apply for the Academy Licence
WHY PROSPX? WHY LEE?
PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL STANDARDS.
REAL ACADEMY BUSINESS EXPERIENCE.
Lee Waddington MSc has more than 30 years’ experience in player development, including senior coaching positions at Manchester United, Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, Blackburn Rovers and Burnley FC.
UEFA A LicenceFA Advanced Youth AwardFA National Talent IDMSc Applied Exercise & Sport Psychology
Professional football development experience.
Premier Football Coaching, founded and developed by Lee.
IN 12 MONTHS
Lee helped Pro Football Academy expand from one UK academy.
In South Florida, Lee also launched an academy and club that grew to more than 100 players and generated monthly revenue above $35,000 during the period reported.
I spent years learning how to build a successful football coaching business. PROSPX brings those lessons together so you don’t have to start from where I started.
THE ACADEMY LICENCE
ONE LICENCE. FIVE CONNECTED SYSTEMS.
The football work and the business work need to support each other. Each system has a clear job.
COACH
Build a professional, consistent player-development experience.
- Coaching methodology and programme structure
- Player-development pathways
- Coach development and consistency
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Age-specific development framework
- Session and curriculum systems
- Technical, perception and decision-making development
- Coaching language and player feedback
BUILD
Establish the commercial foundations of the academy.
- Academy business planning
- Programme structure and pricing
- Revenue, costs and profitability
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Venue and player capacity
- Staffing structure
- Safeguarding framework
- Insurance and compliance guidance
BRAND
Create an identity that attracts the right families.
- Positioning and differentiation
- Website and digital presence
- Marketing and player recruitment
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Academy identity and logo
- Launch campaign
- Academy brochure and parent presentation
- Signage and sponsor materials
RUN
Make the academy easier to operate professionally.
- Registration and administration
- Parent communication
- Staffing and operating procedures
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Player records and attendance
- Bookings and payments
- Development tracking
- Camps and waiting lists
GROW
Build the structure for sustainable expansion.
- Increasing player capacity
- Recruiting and developing coaches
- New programmes and locations
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Multi-coach delivery
- School and club partnerships
- Replicable operations
- Reducing founder dependency
Why spend years discovering what experienced academy builders have already learned?
PROSPX gives founders earlier access to practical knowledge, established frameworks and a clearer route through the decisions that often slow an academy down.
YOUR ROUTE TO PROGRESS
THE EXPERIENCE TOOK YEARS TO BUILD.
YOUR PROGRESS DOESN’T HAVE TO.
PROSPX helps academy founders apply practical business-building knowledge sooner, with less unnecessary trial and error.
WITHOUT THE RIGHT SYSTEMS
- Founder manages nearly everything
- Recruitment is unpredictable
- Programmes are difficult to replicate
- Operations depend on manual effort
- Growth increases workload
- Progress relies heavily on trial and error
WITH STRONGER SYSTEMS
- Clear business and programme structure
- More organised recruitment and follow-up
- Repeatable coaching standards
- More reliable operations
- Capacity to develop additional staff
- A clearer foundation for sustainable growth
ESTABLISH THE FOUNDATIONS
Review the current position, clarify programme structure and pricing, set the coaching and brand direction, and identify the main bottlenecks.
INSTALL THE SYSTEMS
Improve recruitment, enquiry handling, administration and parent communication. Standardise the relevant coaching and operating processes.
PREPARE FOR PROGRESS
Review what works, identify staffing and capacity requirements, improve retention and conversion, and prepare the next development plan.
The 90-day roadmap is an implementation framework. It is not a promise of profitability, player numbers or complete expansion within 90 days.
SUPPORT BEYOND THE FIRST 90 DAYS
The existing licence includes Academy Owner mentoring, business performance reviews, coaching CPD, updated resources, operational support and quarterly Academy Reviews.
FREE ACADEMY GROWTH BLUEPRINT
I spent years learning how to build a £1m football coaching business.
You don't have to.
Discover the five essential systems behind building and growing a stronger football academy.
Learn practical lessons from developing Premier Football Coaching beyond £1 million in annual revenue and helping Pro Football Academy expand from one academy to more than 75 locations in 12 months.
Learn from real business experience and practical lessons.
Understand the coaching, commercial and operational systems that support an academy.
Identify practical actions that could reduce unnecessary trial and error.
EXPLORE OR APPLY
CHOOSE THE RIGHT NEXT STEP.
The free Blueprint is for early-stage interest. The application is for people ready to discuss building or developing an academy business with PROSPX.
GET THE FREE BLUEPRINT
Understand the five systems and identify where your main academy bottleneck may be.
GET THE FREE ACADEMY GROWTH BLUEPRINTAPPLY FOR THE ACADEMY LICENCE
Tell us about your background, current position and what you want to build. Every application is reviewed.
APPLY FOR AN ACADEMY LICENCEAPPLY
Share your football background and academy ambitions.
PERSONAL REVIEW
PROSPX reviews the application and potential fit.
DISCOVERY CONVERSATION
Suitable applicants are invited to discuss the business and territory.
FORMAL LICENCE OFFER
An offer is made only when both sides believe there is a strong fit.
WHO SHOULD APPLY?
Current professionals, players approaching retirement, former professionals, experienced coaches, private academy founders and independent coaching providers with serious business intent.
Submitting an application does not commit you financially and does not guarantee acceptance.QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU APPLY
ACADEMY LICENCE FAQ.
01DO I NEED TO HAVE RETIRED FROM PLAYING?
No. The licence is designed for current players planning ahead, former players and selected experienced coaches or academy owners.
02CAN PROSPX WORK WITH MY EXISTING ACADEMY?
Yes. The starting point is to understand what is already working, then identify the systems restricting the next stage of development.
03DO I NEED COACHING QUALIFICATIONS?
Relevant qualifications and experience are considered during the application process. Coaching and safeguarding requirements depend on the territory and role.
04CAN I KEEP MY OWN ACADEMY NAME?
Yes. Depending on the agreed model, an academy can retain its identity with 'Powered by PROSPX' or operate as a PROSPX Player Academy.
05DO I NEED A VENUE BEFORE APPLYING?
No. Venue identification and assessment can form part of the Academy Licence build process.
06IS THIS A FRANCHISE?
The current model is a selective licence rather than a traditional franchise. Full commercial and legal terms are discussed with suitable applicants.
07WHICH COUNTRIES ARE YOU CONSIDERING?
The initial focus is the UK, USA and Australia, with other suitable territories considered individually.
08DOES APPLYING COMMIT ME FINANCIALLY?
No. An application begins the review process and does not commit you to purchasing a licence.
ACADEMY LICENCE APPLICATION
BUILD WHAT COMES NEXT.
Tell us about your football background and the academy you want to create.
This form is for applicants ready for a serious business conversation. If you are still exploring, start with the free Blueprint.GET THE BLUEPRINT INSTEAD