The programme begins with a live online introduction from the Course Leader, including a diagnostic assessment that helps participants evaluate their current skills and knowledge. This personalised approach enables learners to identify development priorities and tailor their journey through the programme’s five modules.

At the end of each module, participants gain access to a pre-recorded interview with a selected FA guest. These expert insights bring module themes to life through real-world perspectives and practical experiences from within the industry.

Throughout the programme, participants can engage in a live online forum where they can share ideas, discuss challenges and respond to questions posed by the Course Leader and fellow learners. The forum creates a collaborative environment that encourages the exchange of experiences, insights and solutions.

Midway through the programme, participants will join a live, facilitator-led debate featuring the Course Leader and an FA guest. Centred around a topical “critical incident”, the session provides an opportunity to explore contemporary issues, challenge perspectives and apply learning to real-world scenarios.

Upon completion of the programme, participants will gain access to a comprehensive course reader containing a collection of high-quality resources, research and further reading designed to support ongoing professional development.

The programme concludes with a live review session led by the Course Leader. This final session reflects on key themes and learning outcomes, introduces the programme reader and resources, and helps participants identify practical next steps for continued growth and development.

This module gives club leaders a firm grounding in governance, safeguarding, compliance and financial framework. Participants will clarify who does what, learn to recognise and act on safeguarding concerns, build their own compliance tools, and get to grips with the Treasurer’s role and embedding equality, inclusion and wellbeing.

Learning Objectives: 

• Understand club roles, responsibilities and governance frameworks.
• Understanding safeguarding structures and response processes.
• Build a personalised governance checklist and compliance planner.
• Understand the Treasurer’s role and financial governance.
• Promote equality, inclusion and mental health.

Activities:

• Baseline and revisit your knowledge with the Governance Confidence self-assessment.
• Work through a safeguarding decision scenario with model answers.
• Build your own Governance Checklist and Club Compliance Planner.
• Complete Treasurer and finance knowledge checks with a worked budget example.

This module helps leaders grow the club’s income across revenue, facilities, marketing, sponsorship and commercial negotiation. Participants will map where their money comes from, turn facilities into a revenue asset, win and keep local sponsors, and finish with a Growth Roles Audit.

Learning Objectives: 

• Map and evaluate football club revenue streams.
• Develop facility utilisation as a revenue asset.
• Apply practical marketing and communications skills.
• Navigate grants and fundraising confidently.
• Negotiate commercial deals using a structured framework.

Activities:

• Baseline your knowledge with the Business-Building Confidence self-assessment.
• Complete the Revenue Canvas, Facility Planner and Sponsorship Proposal.
• Work through a commercial negotiation scenario with model answers.
• Build a comms calendar, grants checklist and business plan.

This module is about the people who run the club: volunteers, culture, people management, mentoring and succession. Participants will learn to run the full volunteer lifecycle, build an inclusive team and healthy culture, apply HR basics, and design mentoring and succession that survives the ‘bus test’.

Learning Objectives: 

• Apply the volunteer lifecycle.
• Build inclusive volunteer teams.
• Apply human resource basics.
• Design mentoring routines and processes.
• Develop staff succession plans.

Activities:

• Baseline your knowledge with the People & Volunteers Confidence self-assessment.
• Work through the ‘Reluctant Volunteer’ decision scenario with model answers.
• Complete the Volunteer Engagement Planner, Inclusive Recruitment Checklist and Stakeholder Map.
• Design a Mentoring Plan and a ‘How We Do It’ culture guide.

This module builds the conversations and relationships leaders rely on most: feedback, difficult and sensitive conversations, negotiation and meetings. It closes the core programme with the 90-Day Section Implementation Plan, the programme capstone that pulls every module’s outputs together.

Learning Objectives: 

• Give and receive feedback using structured frameworks.
• Prepare for and conduct difficult conversations.
• Navigate sensitive topics with empathy and legal awareness.
• Apply relational negotiation in ongoing club relationships.
• Design and chair effective meetings.

Activities:

• Baseline your knowledge with the Difficult Conversations Confidence self-assessment.
• Work through the ‘Three Tough Talks’ branching scenarios with model answers.
• Practise SBI feedback and structured conversation models using the Conversation Prep Card and ‘Say This Not That’.
• Run a meeting using the ‘Meeting in a Box’ toolkit.

This module is for clubs with playing staff and applies the programme’s skills to the football itself: player registration, contracts, transfers, match-day operations and coach oversight. Sections on registration, match-day and coaching are relevant to all clubs; the contract, transfer and player-negotiation sections are for clubs with playing staff.

Learning Objectives: 

• Understand player contracts, the expenses/wages boundary, and legal requirements.
• Navigate transfers, training compensation and solidarity payments.
• Run match-day operations to league and FA standards.
• Oversee coach qualifications, CPD and development.
• Manage league administration and compliance.

Activities:

• Baseline your knowledge with the Football Operations Confidence self-assessment.
• Work through the ‘Negotiating Player Terms’ scenario with model answers.
• Complete the Registration Audit, Contract Review Schedule and Match-Day Checklist.
• Build a Coach CPD Plan and League Compliance Calendar.