Top female footballer Ella Toone has created a football scholarship for teens.
She has teamed up with the national organisation Access Sport, which runs the Cumbria Institute of Sport at Newton Rigg College, near Penrith, to offer aspiring players aged 16 to 19 a bespoke, career-focused education alongside a match-winning player development programme.
She said: “I always wanted to start my own academy to give girls a chance of fulfilling their dreams. ET7 is me giving back, a place to help develop young girls both on and off the pitch. Somewhere girls can play with a smile on their face and enjoy playing football within a safe environment.
“I am really looking forward to working with Access Sport College as it is clear our ethos align to represent the dream, believe, achieve values we have set here at the ET7 Academy.”
Starting in September 2025, the partnership will see dedicated ET7 female scholarship programmes join the already well established Access Sport female football and sport education programmes nationally.
Students of the new programme can expect a curriculum that include both on and off the pitch transferable skills, regular matches and training camps, international tours and work experience. The programme is designed to support both those that wish to move into elite level football, as well as those who are interested in playing recreationally and gaining further education qualifications.
ET7 Academy elite national player camps will also be held annually with all female students invited to attend, meet Ella and gain an insight into the demand and expectations of life as a professional footballer.
After the course, students will be able to progress onto university, US scholarships, apprenticeships and future careers in playing, coaching, teaching, sports science, analysis, physio, sports media and more.
