{"id":48061,"title":"Kitted Out: Bloomsbury Football Academy","description":"Find out how our friends at Bloomsbury Football Academy, are changing football coaching in Central London. Tackling costs, training methods and more.","content":"

Introducing\u2026 Bloomsbury Football Academy<\/strong><\/h2>

Every organisation in sport has an interesting story to tell. Whether competing, nurturing or providing a service, we have learnt that sport goes well beyond the final whistle. Recently, we have spoken to just some of our favourite and interesting customers as part of our recent\u00a0Kitted Out<\/em>\u00a0series. This time, we speak to a new partner of Kitlocker.com<\/a>: Bloomsbury Football Academy.<\/p>

In December,\u00a0we spoke to Nas from FAB Academy<\/u><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 a private footballing environment designed to get youngsters into the professional game. Bloomsbury Football Academy offers a similar pathway for aspiring talent to find their way, albeit with their own take on how to do it.<\/p>

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Praise from One of Football\u2019s Superpowers<\/strong><\/h2>

We\u2019re delighted to have recently partnered with\u00a0Bloomsbury Football Academy, who provide \u2018the best football experience for talented, young players in Central London\u2019. These are the words of Ian Smithson, who is the Head of Education at Manchester United.\u00a0You\u2019d imagine that someone working for a club of United\u2019s stature knows what they\u2019re talking about\u2026<\/em><\/p>

Director Charlie Hyman has been integral to the success of the organisation. Having founded the academy only last year, he has already seen the numbers grow massively. Bloomsbury FA now train sixty players each week.<\/p>

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Hyman tells us that the quality of the training sessions has been key to the organisation\u2019s success. \u201cThe high-levels and professionalism of the coaching, venues, equipment and kit have been some of the major reasons for our success\u201d.<\/p>

We\u2019ve previously talked about how social media is becoming increasingly important at a grassroots level. Bloomsbury Football Academy have switched on to this and Hyman states that it has been a massive factor in their growth.<\/p>

\u201cAs well as traditional methods of marketing \u2013 including flyering \u2013 we have used social media to move forward. By offering a top-quality service and marketing our sessions well, inevitably the word has spread and players have joined.\u201d<\/p>

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Unique Methods<\/strong><\/h2>

Hyman has incorporated his own beliefs into the sessions that Bloomsbury FA provide. Futsal \u2013 small-sided games of football played indoors \u2013 is perhaps the most key example. It is something that the academy has used since Day One to develop skills.<\/p>

The sport is currently blooming in the UK, and has seen funding boosted by the FA and the Football Foundation in recent years. Hyman\u00a0has previously told us<\/u><\/a>\u00a0that it develops the reaction time of players when faced with high-pressure situations. It has also proven to be popular amongst his young age groups.<\/p>

\u201cI have been heavily involved with futsal in a coaching and playing capacity for the past few years,\u201d he told us. \u201cIt is something that I knew I wanted to bring in when founding Bloomsbury FA. It has arguably been the most successful session that we run each week. We see our highest attendances when playing futsal, and many kids tell me they actually prefer it to football\u201d.<\/p>

As well as futsal, Hyman often implements Speed, Agility and Quickness (SAQ) drills into the players' training regimes. \u201cEvery session involves this sort of work,\u201d he said when asked about the subject. \u201cCreating athletic players is just as important as creating technically proficient ones, to me\u201d.<\/p>

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Tackling the Cost of Grassroots Football<\/strong><\/h2>

Unfortunately for many, grassroots football can be expensive. At the start of the season,\u00a0we covered the true cost of setting up a grassroots football team<\/u><\/a>. We also discussed\u00a0the importance of sponsoring such a team<\/u><\/a>, and why it does more than just put shirts on backs.<\/p>

Since becoming established less than a year ago, Bloomsbury have looked to tackle the issue head on. All sessions and matches are free of charge to all age groups. Bloomsbury Football Academy therefore relies on donations in order to operate.<\/p>

This method is made even more remarkable when looking at the environment in which Bloomsbury operate. Hyman has told us that other local clubs are putting finances before football. \u201cThe model we use allows all players \u2013 irrespective of their financial background \u2013 to attend our programme. Comparatively, other clubs within the area are charging in excess of \u00a315\/16 per hour,\u201c he told us.<\/p>

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Kitlocker.com<\/strong><\/a>: Proud to Supply Bloomsbury Football Academy<\/strong><\/h2>

Our Business Development Manager, Ben Dixon, said that he was delighted to start working with an organisation who possessed a refreshing attitude towards football.<\/p>

\u201cIt was very refreshing when Charlie asked for a meeting to hear about the methods Bloomsbury Academy operate. Providing a low-cost service to families in an urban area, whilst developing talent and increasing participation, are key targets of Bloomsbury. We hope that we can play a part in their continued success. Providing Nike teamwear and equipment will help build the reputation of the organisation further.\u201d<\/p>","urlTitle":"kitted-out-bloomsbury-football-academy","url":"\/blog\/kitted-out-bloomsbury-football-academy\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/kitted-out-bloomsbury-football-academy\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/kitlocker.com\/blog\/kitted-out-bloomsbury-football-academy\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1743602302,"updatedAt":1783349290,"publishedAt":1783349290,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":356097,"name":"Kitlocker"},"tags":[],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/wwlrcvmfphoqx9sdqtkxooz2euqq28kqe81ic4kzyrqg3udc.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/wwlrcvmfphoqx9sdqtkxooz2euqq28kqe81ic4kzyrqg3udc.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/wwlrcvmfphoqx9sdqtkxooz2euqq28kqe81ic4kzyrqg3udc.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"Kitted Out: Bloomsbury Football Academy","metaDescription":"Find out how our friends at Bloomsbury Football Academy, are changing football coaching in Central London. Tackling costs, training methods and more.","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":47749,"title":"Grassroots Football In Lockdown: Surrey FA","url":"\/blog\/grassroots-lockdown-surrey-fa\/","urlTitle":"grassroots-lockdown-surrey-fa","division":356097,"description":"What has lockdown been like for those that keep football ticking all year round? We spoke to Surrey FA about lockdown challenges and plans for the return.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/2re0uk427cfqxep7cnjl3vwnlvjsksynxamnrjzcw6jw3ety.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/2re0uk427cfqxep7cnjl3vwnlvjsksynxamnrjzcw6jw3ety.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":47618,"title":"Introducing: Umbro Match Kits","url":"\/blog\/umbro-match-kits\/","urlTitle":"umbro-match-kits","division":356097,"description":"To celebrate our recent launch of the new Umbro range, we\u2019re showcasing some of our favourite match kits. Could one be your club's next kit?","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/qryys6fpqm2szgjuyvlsr6jbd5vprzacj2yxotuznftdbsjb.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/qryys6fpqm2szgjuyvlsr6jbd5vprzacj2yxotuznftdbsjb.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":47966,"title":"Kits of the Month: April 23","url":"\/blog\/kits-of-the-month-april-23\/","urlTitle":"kits-of-the-month-april-23","division":356097,"description":"KOTM April 2023: Featuring Middlesex CCC and University of Portsmouth. We love showcasing our favourite kits every month for the world to see.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/p331vyoahcqalhc7acdykiki6jyukhhv2pnotp4l0bgladch.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/p331vyoahcqalhc7acdykiki6jyukhhv2pnotp4l0bgladch.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}