League Football Education Player Placement Programme
Introduction
League Football Education (LFE) would like to extend a warm welcome to our Player Placement
Programme.
This programme has been made possible by the „Leonardo Da Vinci- Life Long Learning
programme‟ which has awarded us with funds for this development project.
The project was established to provide Ex-Apprentices/1st year professionals released from the
English Football League with an exit and progression route back into football through establishing
links within Clubs in Europe. Ultimately we hope to provide both Players and Clubs with a unique
opportunity within a European setting that not only provides career development prospects for
Players but also opens up avenues of future development and networks for those Clubs hosting
Players.
We hope that this will be not only an enjoyable experience for both parties, but one from which
each can learn and benefit a great deal.
Please take some time to read through the information in this pack to ensure you are fully familiar
with the placement programme.
This preparation pack should provide you with all you need to know about the placement
programme, it includes:
Aims and Objectives of the placement
Letter of Commitment
LFE responsibilities
Expectations of the Host Club
Making your player decision
Many Thanks,
The LFE Team
Aims and Objective of the Placement
The following aims and objective were the basis of our original proposal and have been agreed
with the national agency. We are looking where possible, to achieve each aim during the
placement.
To achieve both quantitative and qualitative improvements in the development of the
participants as footballers
To improve the participants knowledge and understanding of Lifelong Learning principles
To improve the participants knowledge and understanding of the European opportunities in
football and other careers
To deliver a high quality social and cultural programme including the use of the host
language to an intermediary level
To achieve a professional football contract at a European Club and/or as an
employee/trainee in Europe in an alternative career
From an LLP/employability perspective we would also envisage time to be set aside for a
discussion forum on career development, career aspirations and the participant‟s future at home or
abroad. This could be facilitated through either formal or informal sessions.
It is also expected that a programme of social and cultural integration will be undertaken so that
the participant can familiarise themselves with the wider town and country.
Club Contract
Leonardo PLM – Letter of Commitment
We, NAME OF CLUB, fully commit to a NUMBER week Leonardo work placement running from
the DATE to DATE inclusive.
During this time we will provide a full football, social and cultural development programme for the
player, providing support and guidance where appropriate and as detailed in the “Expectations of
the Host Club” section of the information pack.
Apart from in the event of an emergency or other extenuating circumstances we confirm that we
will host the participant for the duration of the programme.
Finally, should we not undertake any of the above in the appropriate manner we understand that
LFE reserve the right to withhold payment or remove the player(s) in our care returning them
home.
Furthermore we understand that should the situation of removal arise we will be responsible for
the full cost of the placement programme.
SIGNATURE: ________________________________
NAME:
________________________________
TITLE:
________________________________
DATE:
________________________________
LFE Responsibilities
Funding
LFE provides funding to cover the cost of the participants:
Accommodation
Food
Travel Costs
LFE will provide details of set dates when clubs will receive payments, invoices will need to be sent
directly to LFE at the start of these weeks for payment to be made.
Support
LFE are here to support you for the duration of the programme, therefore it is vital that we
establish good lines of communications.
In the event of any issues/problems arising with the placement or within the Club please report
these immediately so we can ensure a swift response and the problem can be resolved in the
interest of all parties.
Contact Details
Contact Details
Office Hours (8.30am - 5pm)
Name
Organisation
Sarah Stonehouse
LFE
Kelly Davies
LFE
Number
+44 870 4589250
+44 7725 576997
Email
[email protected]
[email protected]
Out of Office Hours – EMERGENCY ONLY (5pm - 8.30am)
Emergency contact
Dan Jolley
LFE
+44 7876 500350
[email protected]
Expectations of the Host Club
The following list of expectations outlines the commitment that you as a host Club make to the
programme. Please bear in mind these responsibilities when making your decision to enter the
programme.
Budget
Cost will vary and LFE will confirm these upon receipt of a signed letter of commitment.
This funding is to contribute/cover the cost of the following:
Accommodation,
Food
Travel cost (to and from the country)
Internet access
*Up to the amount provided by LFE, any costs incurred outside of this will be the responsibility of
the Club.
The Club is responsible for providing:
Players Wages
Mobile phone SIM card + €20 of credit
Travel costs to and from games
Training Kit
Through the Leonardo funding and with the backing of our Board, consisting of the Football
League and the Professional Football Association LFE is in a position to guarantee they are able to
fulfil all financial contractual agreements.
LFE will ensure that all costs mentioned in the above paragraph up to a total of €XXXX are paid in
full to the club, upon receipt of appropriate invoices/receipts.
For any payments made that are LFE‟s responsibility invoices are to be collected by the club from
the external suppliers e.g. accommodation, food and travel. It is then the clubs responsibility to
send these invoices to LFE at:
League Football Education
Edward VII Quay
Navigation Way
Preston
PR2 2YF
LFE commit to make payments within 10 working days after receipt of the invoice. Please include
the following information your invoices;
Full name and address of the bank
Account number
Swift number
IBAN number
If you are unsure who is responsible for a particular cost please confirm this with LFE before
making the purchase.
Mentor
You will be responsible for providing a „mentor‟ for the participant who will act as a day to day
point of contact within the Club and will be there to support the participant for the duration of
their stay. It will be the mentor‟s responsibility to orientate the participant upon their arrival in
Sweden, showing them round the area and introducing them to their new Club.
Travel
Should it be necessary for any additional travel arrangements to be made for the participant
please support the participant in terms of appropriate methods of travel, timing, directions and any
other queries they may have. It will also be the Clubs responsibility to ensure the participant is
collected and returned to the airport safely.
Accommodation
Participants need to be provided with suitable accommodation for the duration of their stay, this
could be either self catering accommodation or permanent accommodation in a hotel. It is possible
that it can be shared but each individual must have their own sleeping space. This accommodation
needs to include access to/budget for:
Food – 3 meals per day, either in the hotel restaurant or within 5 minutes walking distance of the
accommodation, or a food allowance provided for self catering facilities.
Laundry – Laundry facilities need to be available, again in the hotel or within close proximity.
Internet – Access to the internet must be easy and reliable and of zero or minimum cost to allow
the player to keep in contact with family/friends and LFE.
*Please ensure that if any problems arise with the accommodation i.e. additional costs, damaged
items, that LFE are informed at the point this occurs.*
A player can also be accommodated with a host family; however this is ONLY if mutual consent is
reached.
Full details of participant’s accommodation/food and laundry facilities including
address information must be provided to LFE before commencement of the placement.
Wages
Each participant should be paid a weekly wage of a minimum €80 per week. This is to be paid
directly to the participant in cash by the host Club on every Friday of the placement.
Activities
Schedule
In order to enhance the players experience the club must provide a detailed itinerary for the player
for the full period (excluding public holidays). This should include:
Any club training
Scheduled games
Additional training
Social activities
Coaching opportunities
The training programme needs to include/detail the following:
1. Training programme with the Club
2. Additional supplementary training (i.e. to ensure full time training if not already undertaken
by the Club)
3. Training venue
4. Training dates and times
Gym – Provision should also be made for the player to access a Gym/Swimming facility to
undertake additional conditioning/weight training
Social and Cultural Programme
Language course – Where possible a language course needs to be arranged for this can be an
evening class or school programme or any other suitable alternative.
Other Responsibilities
You will be required to provide the participant with an international Sim card that will provide
value for money on calls abroad. This will be given to the player on collection from the airport.
Insurance
LFE will purchase the appropriate travel insurance and also ensure that the player has acquired the
EHIC card. The necessary football/medical insurance must be put in place by the host Club.
The Spirit of the Programme
It is expected that both the Club and Player enter into the spirit of the programme by fully
committing to all elements of the programme and its duration. This spirit is one of development
and growth for both Player and Club alike. It is also expected that both parties respect the fact
that the European Funding programme has made this opportunity possible and have to respect the
funding protocols in place.
What you will get out of the programme
The opportunity to diversify your squad with Players who have been trained by Clubs from
the English football League.
Create a partnership with LFE to continue your involvement in this scheme.
Create links with English Football Players/Clubs for future player migration
Making your player decision
We have already establish a list of player who have expressed an interest in this opportunity, this
will formulate the basis of you decision. However if you have a particular request i.e. a particular
position that you need filling advise an LFE member of staff and we will endeavour to find an
appropriate player.
E-Scout
LFE have developed a partnership with E-Scout, E-Scout deliver an exciting and innovative video
analysis service for our apprentices, E-Scout collect footage from players throughout the season
which is then made available using their online facility.
The E-Scout service is very straightforward to use, simply log in online at www.e-scout.tv/ and
sign up using the toolbar at the top of the screen.
If you have any problems using this service then please contact E-Scout directly on: [email protected] or 07813 623668.
Heads of Youth
Should you wish we will also endeavour to put you in contact with the Head of Youth at each
player‟s respective Club so you are able to get an informed opinion on the player‟s ability.
Player/Club Contractual agreements
Whilst on programme clubs must be prepared to allow players the opportunity to trial or train with
clubs in higher divisions and must make every effort to accommodate this into the players
schedule, however should a clash in schedules occur the player must attend the training session of
his original club.
What happens after the programme
Once the programme is complete, players and clubs are entitled to negotiate a formal playing
contract providing there is mutual interest in prolonging the contract. Please be aware than once
the agreed placement has been finished LFE will no longer be in a position to offer any financial
support.