Hugh McAuley Football Academy

Hugh McAuley is an experienced football coach with a professional playing background. His playing career started in 1966 with first team appearances at Liverpool FC amongst others throughout the Football League.

Players are allowed to express themselves, play without fear of making mistakes, and are encouraged to make their own decisions and discover the enjoyment of football. Individual technical sessions are also developed into game related practices.

All coaches at the Academy are FA certified, and are all First Aid trained and CRB checked.

Hugh McAuley is an experienced football coach with a professional playing background. His playing career started in 1966 with first team appearances at Liverpool FC amongst others throughout the Football League.

In 1982 Hugh joined the Merseyside Youth Association as Merseyside Football Development and Activities Officer. Here he organised and delivered coaching sessions and badge training to youth leaders as well as organising soccer courses for 7-16 year olds.

In 1988 Hugh was approached by Kenny Dalglish asking him to return to the club to set up the clubs Centre of Excellence Programme for 9 to 14 year old players. Hugh made a huge impact on the club and in 1996 made history by winning the Football Association (FA) Youth Cup for the first time, the winning team included Michael Owen and Jamie Carragher – both trained by Hugh.

The later years of Hugh’s time at the club he spent managing and developing the reserve team. Hugh has developed world class players including Robbie Fowler and Steven Gerrard.

About the Academy

The Hugh McAuley Football Academy offers a range of activities including:

  • Soccer Camps
  • Holiday Courses
  • PPA/After School Sessions
  • Football Consultancy
  • 1 on 1 Technical Training
  • Team Training
  • Pre-Season Training Schedules
  • Football Lectures

Typical Soccer Camps include expert and fun technical training, competitions and mini-games, speed, agility and quickness training, specialist goalkeeper training and potential for Premiership Club trials.

All coaches at the Academy are FA certified, and are all First Aid trained and CRB checked.

Our Core Values – ‘RESPECT’

Respect for individuals, helping them realise their potential

Environment based on commitment, teamwork, good leadership and positive and friendly management styles

Shared common purpose founded on honesty, integrity, objectivity, accountability and success

Pride in the social and physical development of participants

Excellence achieved through continual improvement

Community that is inclusive

Taking part instilling a winning culture

Our Philosophy

We understand that young players learn and improve by having as many touches of the ball as possible in a training session.

Because of this, many of the practices we use involves each participant having individual use of a ball. This then progresses to running, turning and passing with quality. There are also individual practice opportunities for defenders, midfield players and strikers.

Players are allowed to express themselves, play without fear of making mistakes, and are encouraged to make their own decisions and discover the enjoyment of football. Individual technical sessions are also developed into game related practices.

Our Vision

We seek to attract, develop and prepare young people with the skills needed to successfully face new challenges presented to them by football and life.

Our resources are dedicated to nurturing the talents of each individual under our core values of integrity, hard work, respect, discipline, success, goal attainment and leadership. We strongly believe in these values and operate the Academy under the following principles, to:

  • Create the finest youth football training environment in the region using a development regimen created by one of the most experienced football coaches in the country.
  • To give every player the opportunity to reach their potential  Enhance the tactical and technical skills of our Academy members through top class professional coaching
  • To provide the proper developmental environment for as many players as possible through the academy