Led by performance coach, and UEFA B licensed coach Pedro Bruno, the football programme at the University has being growing at a fast pace in the last couple years.

The women’s first team compete in the BUCS Premier South Division and the men’s in the South Eastern 1A. 

We are also proud that at Essex we are a FA Women's Football High Performance Centre too, supporting and developing the future women's game coaches from around the South-East and our students.

As a student at Essex, you'll benefit from not only our first-class sporting facilities, but unique partnerships with Football Clubs, such as Ipswich Town Billericay Town, Hashtag United, AFC Sudbury, and West Ham United Women too.

Football programme

Our programme

Led by UEFA B licensed coach, Pedro Bruno, we deliver an athlete-centred football programme for female and male players who are looking to combine their education with a route to playing professional sport upon graduation and giving them the chance to compete in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Premier South league. The University of Essex has a number of partnerships including TASS and Ipswich Town Football Club, where we are a Women's Superleague FA Academy delivery site, AFC Sudbury, and emerging links with Hashtag United, Billericay Town and West Ham United Women.

As part of the programme you will receive:

  • Performance Coaching
  • Strength and Conditioning Coaching
  • Performance Analysis
  • Use of the onsite Sports Therapy Clinic
  • Access to on-site accommodation
  • lifestyle advisor network
  • Comprehensive workshop programme
  • Complimentary Gym Membership
  • 2 Team Training sessions

Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS)

The Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) is a Sport England funded partnership between talented athletes, the University of Essex and national governing bodies of sport. We work together to bring the best out of our country’s most exciting young talent.

TASS helps athletes – aged 16-plus – to balance sport within the rest of their lives, be they in education, training or another form of personal development.

The TASS Dual Career Accreditation Scheme recognises an education institution’s commitment to dual career support for talented athletes who are in full time education. The Dual Career Accreditation Scheme acknowledges an enhanced level of academic flexibility and understanding within an institution, allowing talented athletes to balance their studies with a hectic sporting schedule.

Our football accolades

Accolades include:

  • BUCS South Eastern Tier 1 Women’s Champions 21/22
  • Women’s Premier South Promotion 21/22
  • Essex Sport football student
    "The University of Essex was a successful and enjoyable journey for me, captaining a growing 1st team whilst achieving a first-class degree in BSc Economics. Being captain became a driving force of mine, especially as the social side of Men’s Football became a growing part of my university experience. I would never have expected this when I first joined, but it was important to balance this out with my degree - not overly focussing on either of the two. The programme was key to our development, both individually and as a team with improved physical and mental support. Furthermore we had several volunteering opportunities, allowing us to help the community and the university, along with ourselves."
    James Turner-Pines University of Eseex Men’s 1st Team Captain 2020-2022
    Essex Sport Mens Football team
    Essex Sport Mens Football team
    The Women's 1sr Football Team
    The Women's 1sr Football Team
    Rugby player in black about to be tackled by two other players in green and gold tops
    Athlete Village

    Both returning students who have previously represented the University in BUCS competitions, and new students who can evidence their level of performance in school, county or national level competition are welcome to apply to live in the Athlete Village.

    Find out more about the Athlete Village