Under 21s
Opportunities for players aged U16 - U21.​​
From Young Stars to Young Lions
Hertfordshire FA wants to support young players move from youth football into adult open age football.
Local Saturday & Sunday Leagues across Hertfordshire provide open age football games for thousands of players every weekend in the county. Players can compete in open age football from the age of 16.
Clubs, schools, colleges and universities also provide opportunities in a range of formats for players aged 16-21 of all abilities to play football.
What’s more, Hertfordshire FA support a number of small sided leagues across the county for young players that want to stay in the game, but may not want to get into 11v11 adult football just yet.
From Football College Schemes to open age County Leagues, find out how you can get involved here.
16-19 Football Education & College Schemes
A number of clubs and colleges in Hertfordshire run programmes for students aged 16+ that combine education with football development.
These schemes can help players’ achieve their sporting potential and get a recognised qualification.
Football can play an important role within colleges, whether it is part of your course or as part of an enrichment opportunity. Hertfordshire FA and the English Colleges FA support clubs and colleges with football education programmes to develop all format of the game.
There are a wide range of programmes currently running in Hertfordshire. For more information please visit the ECFA website.
English Colleges FA
Playing at University
The University of Hertfordshire
One of the best ways to meet like-minded people, to have fun and to broaden your horizons, is to join a football club.
The FA, in partnership with BUCS and Sport England support a University Football Activator at the University of Hertfordshire.
Activators work as football development officers at the University; facilitating football opportunities for active students and intra-mural competitions while supporting BUCS football too.
The University of Hertfordshire offer players opportunities in football and futsal clubs for all abilities.
jumping the gap
Moving young people from a youth environment to an adult competition is a challenge for all sport.
In football the need for support in this area is underlined by the fact that player participation in football halves from 52% of the population in the 13–15 age range to 26% when they are 17–18.
The challenge for football is that this drop off can simply be for ’ life’ reasons – starting work, university, socialising and end of parental support – Learn how we're encouraging these young players to stay in the game!
