Chadderton FC Launch Post-16 College Programme in Partnership with VLUK

Chadderton FC is proud to announce a major milestone in the Club’s development with the launch of our brand-new Post-16 Football & Education Programme, delivered in partnership with VLUK (Virtual Learning UK) — one of the UK’s leading providers of education in the sports sector.

Starting September 2026, school leavers will have the unique opportunity to LEARN, TRAIN & PLAY full time at Chadderton FC, combining elite football development with high-quality education in a professional football environment.

This exciting initiative forms a key part of the Club’s long-term Development Pathway and vision for the future. Students will be based at the Emplas Commercial North Stadium, where they will receive daily coaching from UEFA qualified coaches, play competitive weekly fixtures representing Chadderton FC, and continue their academic journey through a Level 3 sports qualification, fully recognised for university progression.

"This is an exciting time in the development of Chadderton FC" said Dale Harris, of Chadderton FC.

"This programme is going to give us the opportunity to build a strong foundation for the future of our Club. It is not going to be about how many students we can get into the classroom spaces, — we want to invest in a small, dedicated group of students who will be given a genuine opportunity to grow within our system. We may not be a professional club, but there is no reason we can't adopt a professional mindset and offer for the students who will be the future of our club."

Dale added; "Whilst we can't guarantee every student and player will go on to play football in our first team and the possibility of creating professional footballers is a small percentage. We can certainly provide the education and experience to create professionals with a future career in football and sport as a wider sector."

As part of their full-time programme, students will benefit from:

• Daily coaching sessions from UEFA licensed coaches
• Competitive matches in a recognised youth league structure
• Opportunities to progress through the Club’s Development Pathway towards First Team football
• Free gym membership
• Branded training and match kit
• Access to qualified physiotherapists, analysts and support staff
• Career support into roles within the football and wider sports industry

This course provides a platform not just for potential semi-professional or professional players, but for those who aspire to work across all areas of the sporting world — from coaching and sports science, to media, business, and physiotherapy.

Our education partner VLUK brings a wealth of experience in delivering high-quality, flexible academic programmes tailored to sports learners. With a strong track record of student success, VLUK will ensure learners receive the support they need both on and off the pitch to fulfil their potential.

This isn’t just a course. This is a pathway to a future in football, grounded in education, development and opportunity.

Applications Now Open

Places on the course are limited. We will be hosting a number of Open Evenings and Trial Days in the coming months for those interested in applying.

To register your interest, please complete the Expression of Interest form and a member of our team will be in touch with further details.

If you have any questions, please contact us on commercial.chaddertonfc@gmail.com