The Strachan Football Foundation, one of the UK’s most successful football education programmes, has announced today, Wednesday 31st March 2021, that it is to move its growing programme of sporting and educational support for young people to the extensive and world class sports facilities at the University of Warwick.

The Foundation was founded in 2011 by football icon Gordon Strachan. Gordon played for Dundee, Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds United, Coventry City, and also represented Scotland 50 times (appearing in two World Cups). He has managed Coventry City and Southampton in the Premier League, Celtic in the Champions League, and Middlesbrough. Gordon described his five years managing Scotland’s national team as his “dream job” and “an absolute honour”. Despite his continuing commitments to professional football Gordon is a regular face at the Strachan Football Foundation’s training sessions.

Craig Strachan, the Strachan Football Foundation’s Assistant Director of Football, said:

“We are incredibly proud of the opportunities we provide young people to reach their potential in the classroom and on the football pitch. We are constantly looking at ways to further enhance the programme and we are so excited what the move to the University of Warwick will mean for our students”:

The Strachan Football Foundation (SFF) offers:

• A bespoke programme of full time education suited to each learner’s needs, ability and desired career path
• A football programme, with an extensive training and games programme based at a state of the art training facility.
• Full time education from Level 1 to Level 3 in variety of football / sport / coaching related qualifications.
• Degree Courses (working with Nottingham University and Loughborough College).
• Opportunities to work towards of a scholarship at one of eleven colleges and universities in the United States.

Since SFF’s creation in 2011 in Rugby by its Director and founder Gordon Strachan, it has quadrupled in size and now works with over 80 young people, many of whom come from the Coventry and North Warwickshire area. SFF’s development in size and shape has now led to its move from Rugby to the University of Warwick Campus.

George Mackie, Director of Football at the Strachan Football Foundation said:

“I want to thank Rugby Borough Football club and their junior team for hosting us and enabling us to provide this support for a great many young people over the last decade. However, the continuing success of the Foundation means that we have now outgrown our Rugby home.”

“Our new base at the University of Warwick will give us access to more facilities and pitches on site, which will enable further growth, and will allow our program to be more accessible to a greater number of students.”

SFF’s founder and Director Gordon Strachan said:

“Pandemic restrictions permitting, our young students will begin training and studying in our new University of Warwick base in September. I look forward to being there myself to see the first ball kicked by one our fantastic young people in this fabulous new home right on the edge of Coventry, a city I know so well.”

Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Director of Sport and Active Communities at the University of Warwick said:

“We are delighted that the Strachan Football Foundation have chosen to bring their academy to the world class sports facilities here at the University of Warwick. Our facilities have helped train, support and host many Olympic, Commonwealth, and UK professional athletes; and professional football players.”

“The young people who will access the Foundation’s programmes on our campus will benefit from support, training, and access to qualifications that will bring huge benefits to them and their future careers. It is a fantastic opportunity for the University, our region and our local community in Coventry and Warwickshire to host this Foundation, led by an international football figure with such close connections to Coventry, which will benefit many of our local young people.”

Notes for Editors

The Strachan Football Foundation is a not for profit company. The Foundation was started in 2011 in Rugby, by its Director and founder Gordon Strachan alongside son Gavin Strachan, who both wanted to bring together education and football for young aspiring students/footballers. The Foundation is committed to creating a learning environment to enable students to develop their personal growth through education, football and experiences at the foundation. It has worked closely with schools, students, parents and education providers to create a leading football education academy. For further information see: http://www.strachanfootballfoundation.co.uk/

For further information and interview opportunities with SFF please contact:

Peter Dunn, Director of Press and Media Relations, University of Warwick
Email: p.j.dunn@warwick.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)7767 655860

31st March 2021 PJD