Professional Player to Coach Scheme (PPCS) 2026/27 Season

Step Into the Game: A Career-Changing Coaching Opportunity

Contract Type: 23-month fixed-term
Salary: £27,500 per annum
Role & Development Programme: The successful candidate will divide their time between Luton Town Football Club Academy Coach employment and the Premier League Coach Development Programme
Location: The Brache, Academy

Join the Professional Player to Coach Scheme (PPCS)

Luton Town Football Club, in partnership with the Premier League, PFA and EFL, is offering a 23-month, full-time Academy coaching role, to support the development of the next generation of football coaches as part of the Professional Player to Coach Scheme 2026/27. The scheme is open to all, and we particularly welcome applications from individuals from Black, Asian and mixed heritage backgrounds, as they are underrepresented groups amongst the coaching roles that exist across the professional game.

What’s Involved?

You’ll split your time between Academy coaching at Luton Town Football Club and the Premier League’s accredited Coach Development Programme. You’ll gain experience across development phases and work with multi-disciplinary teams.

Your development journey will include:

· Mentoring and bespoke support

· Immersive learning experiences

· Peer learning

· Access to FA/UEFA qualifications (based on development need and subject to availability)

On successful completion of all programme elements, you’ll be awarded a Diploma in Professional Football Coaching from Leeds Beckett University.

What We’re Looking For

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

· Plan, prepare and deliver coaching sessions in tandem with the Club philosophy and coaching syllabus, under the guidance of the Academy Head of Coaching and Lead Phase Coach.

· Be responsible for maintenance of training / match balls, bibs, cones and all other relevant equipment as required by the Academy.

· Work with match analysts to plan and prepare relevant team and individual footage.

· Support in providing feedback to players.

· Organise Academy players’ logistics for all training sessions, fixtures, tournaments and Academy events.

· Support in informing players, parents and guardians of any changes or cancellations to training sessions, matches or Academy events as soon as possible.

· Upon training, support in to completing all relevant information on The Football IP as directed by the Phase Lead Coach, including registers and session plans.

· Co-Construct and deliver detailed six weekly individual player progress reviews with players and any other relevant coaching staff.

· Co-Construct player Development Review Sheets ahead of Player Development Review Meetings.

· Attend and conduct Player Development Review Meetings.

· Communicate and liaise regularly with the Lead Phase Coach to discuss any relevant player issue(s).

· Effective and efficient multi-disciplinary communication between staff, players and parents to ensure optimal well-being and development of all players.

· Report all player injuries immediately to the Club medical staff.

· Recommend and recruit players for the Academy in tandem with the Academy Head of Recruitment.

· Assist in the decision-making process regarding the permanent registration of Academy triallists and the retention of players currently at the Club.

· Attend all in-service and coaching days as directed by the Academy & Player Development Manager, Academy Head of Coaching and Phase Lead Coach.

· Attend any relevant courses and qualifications as directed by the Academy & Player Development Manager or Academy Head of Coaching.

· Attend all staff meetings as directed by the Academy & Player Development Manager.

· Document all appropriate communication with parents and guardians of Academy players.

Essential criteria:

· PFA member

· Registered on, or completed, the UEFA B Licence as a minimum

· No prior full-time 1st Team or Academy coaching role at a Premier League or EFL club

· FA Safeguarding Certificate, Emergency First Aid, and Enhanced DBS (to be completed prior to role commencement)

Desirable criteria:

· Desirable Experience of coaching in one, or more, of the following environments: grassroots, community, education, development centre or part-time academy football settings

· Experience of coaching a team or group of players on a regular basis

· Experience of holistic youth development activities within, or beyond, sport

· UEFA A Licence or FA Advanced Youth Award

You’ll bring:

· A drive to coach in the professional game

· Passion for player development & developmentally appropriate learning environments

· Commitment to fulfilling duty of care for children, young people, and adults in healthy, high-performance environments

· Resilience and commitment to high-performance environments

· Excellent communication and relationship-building skills

· A desire to be a role model and ambassador for diversity in the game

How to Apply

Reasonable adjustments are available for applicants with a disability, please contact our HR Team – hr@lutontown.co.uk for further support in applying for this role.

Please submit a two-part cover letter:

1. Part 1 (max 500 words) to demonstrate how you fulfil the “What We’re Looking For” criteria. Please structure your responses under the following headings:

a) The essential criteria I fulfil

b) The desirable criteria I fulfil

c) My desire to be a role model and ambassador for diversity in the game.

2. Part 2 (max 500 words) to answer all the following questions.

Please structure your responses under the following headings:

a) My motivations for applying for the PPCS academy coach role and Premier League Coach Development Programme

b) How the PPCS academy coach role and development programme fits with my career ambitions

c) How my unique expertise, and lived experience, will benefit the club and players

3. Your CV (Please include your PFA number)

Key Dates

· Application Deadline: Wednesday 27th May 2026.

· Email Applications & Queries To: hr@lutontown.co.uk

· Assessment Activities: Stage 1 & Stage 2 Week Commencing 3rd June 2026.

· PPCS Induction, Lake District September 2026 (4 days)

Luton Town and the Premier League, PFA and EFL are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. Reasonable adjustments are available for applicants with a disability. Please contact our HR Team – hr@lutontown.co.uk if you would like to discuss this further.

Equality monitoring information will be requested separately and will not form part of the selection process.