The FootballCV Academy was established in 2007 as the first private international residential football academy in the UK and provided full time football and education to UK and International students.
It was opened by former England, Man Utd and Aston Villa star Ashley Young at its first home – Nene Park, Rushden & Diamonds FC.
It soon became a well-established academy giving players aged 16-19 years old opportunities to compete in FA competitions, national leagues and trial opportunities at pro and semi-pro clubs in the UK and overseas. In 2015 it relocated to Stamford and changed its name to FCV International Football Academy.
The academy helped hundreds of players to develop as footballers, academically and as young adults with many going on to successful playing careers such as Calaum Jahraldo-Martin, who became the first student to play for a Premier League side, joining Hull City just six months after completing a two-year course at FootballCV and Emmanuel Oyeleke (Brentford and Port Vale).
During the 2016-17 season there were a record eight international call-ups for Academy players.
Several high profile coaches ran sessions at the academy including Gordon Strachan and Gus Poyet and by 2018 had increased its global presence with courses being run in India, Zimbabwe, Bulgaria, Australia, Belgium and Sweden and back home held sessions at St Georges Park and Etihad Campus, Manchester City.
In 2022 founder and owner, Graham Starmer, relocated the academy to Grace Dieu Park, Leicestershire in 2022 and subsequently sold the business.
