Grassroots · · 5 min
How the English pyramid actually works
From the park pitch to the Premier League there are more than 20 steps. Here is the map players and parents actually need.
News
Grassroots and professional football in the UK.
Short reads for players and parents: the pyramid, scouting, release, girls' pathways, and how Path2Pro UK works. No transfer gossip.
Scouting · · 6 min
What academy scouts actually look for at U9, U12 and U16
It is rarely the stepover. At each age the picture changes — and highlighting the wrong thing can hide a player.
Pathway · · 5 min
Released from an academy — what happens next
Most academy players will be released. The pathway does not end there, but the next 12 months matter more than the previous five.
Grassroots · · 4 min
The girls’ pathway in England is real — and still uneven
WSL academies, emerging talent centres and a growing grassroots game. Access still depends on postcode and a willing club.
Professional · · 4 min
Sunday league to the National League is still a path
Every season, open-age players move from parks football into the steps. It is unglamorous, local, and it works.
Club · · 4 min
Safeguarding, parents and how we work with under-18s
Players from four years old can be on the pathway. That only works if a parent or guardian is in the room.