1. We Make Footballers

2. History

3. Playing Philosophy

4. Training Sylabus & Structure

5. WMF Franchises

6. Player Pathways

7. References

We Make Footballers

We Make Footballers (WMF) are currently the fastest growing football coaching franchise in the UK,^[1][2] delivering weekly sessions to over 1700 children. WMF have built their business around a unique training model that looks to develop players with great technique, who are comfortable in possession and who are prepared to take players on.

As well as weekly training sessions, WMF centers offer Holiday Camps, Talent ID events, 1-2-1 coaching and Birthday Parties to players of all abilities, from the ages of 4-12. WMF is also known for organising and hosting major footballing events, for all age groups, such as the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P50HnGuqgfM&t=5s PLAYR Academy trials], [https://www.playrsmartcoach.com/blog/gothia-cup-diary-day-five/ taking a Squad all the way to the final of the 2018 Gothia Cup] and [https://www.internationallondoncup.com/ The London International Youth Cup]. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

WMF are known in the footballing community for developing their own unique training syllabus that focuses on improving a players technique and control whilst in possession of the football. Their methods have proven highly affective, seeing over 180 of their players signed for professional academies over the past 12 years. ^{[6] [7] [8]}

History

The company was established in 2007, originally under the name Sports Linx, by [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-conlon-75803214/?originalSubdomain=uk Sean Conlon] and [https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-healy-a80b435/?originalSubdomain=uk Matthew Healy]. Sean and Mathew worked as Academy coaches for [https://www.chelseafc.com/en Chelsea FC] at the time, which lead to them developing a training syllabus much like that of an academy's, focusing on a players technique and control whilst in possession of the football. To do this they designed sessions that maximize an individuals ball rolling time, with activities that revolve around work on the ball and games that are limited to either 1v1, 2v2 and 3v3. This model has proven extremely successful for the company and has seen We Make Footballers get over 180 players signed for academies over the past 12 years. ^{[9] [10] [11]}

In 2012, Sports Linx invested in a booking system called Parent Area, the software, which automated payments and kept weekly registers for the classes, allowed the company to start growing at a rapid pace and by 2014 Sports linx became one of the biggest coaching schools in London, with over 1000 subscribed players attending weekly sessions.

In January 2015, [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lancasterian/?originalSubdomain=uk Ian Lancaster] became a director in the company, his first act on the board was to change the companies name from Sports Linx to We Make Footballers. His second was to propose that the company should consider setting up a franchising model. WMF quickly went about making these changes and after their audit and registration process, with the British Franchise Association, was complete they received accreditation in December 2015. ^[12]

Since gaining accreditation as a franchise WMF has expanded rapidly and now has 13 franchises, spanning the country, with centers from Sussex to Cheshire. ^[13]

Playing Philosophy

According to their website, We Make Footballers believe in a quick, clever and attractive style of football that progresses through the thirds of a pitch. Their philosophy is one that is based around keeping possession, through fluidity of movement and by moving the ball with a purpose. ^[14]

WMF also put a huge emphasis on developing players who are comfortable in possession and who are prepared to dribble at defenders and take them on, this is achieved by creating lots of 1v1 situations within their sessions and by encouraging their players to play both freely and positively. ^[15]

This is a key component of WMF Training as being technically profound and comfortable in possession is exactly what scouts are looking for in players aged 4-12. ^{[16] [17]}

Training Sylabus & Structure

WMF sessions are held weekly, in a fun and friendly environment, with a focus on developing the core fundamentals and technique within each individual player.

Each week coaches will focus on a different theme such as skills, shooting or passing. However, every session will follow the same structure: 10/10/10/30 - 10 mins warm up - 10 mins technical session - 10 mins technical session - 30 mins of games (1v1, 2v2, 3v3). This structure has been designed by WMF, with children's attention spans in mind. The short exercises allow players to develop their technical attributes without losing focus or becoming distracted. ^{[18] [19]}

WMF have also tailored their training to develop technical players, who are gifted on the ball. To ensure this happens it is crucial that players have a lot of time in possession of the football, therefore WMF warm-ups will always be 1 player to 1 ball, meaning that all of their players get a large amount of time on the ball. WMF also insist on keeping their matches to small-sided games, which further increase the amount of time their players get on the ball.

WMF Franchises

Player Pathways

WMF believe in providing pathways for each and every one of their players, whether that be into grassroots football or into professional clubs. For this reason, each WMF Centre will have a grassroots partnered club, to which they regularly feed players into, when the WMF coaches feel that they are ready.

Furthermore, each venue holds regular Talent ID Events, these events see WMF players get the chance to play in front of scouts from some of the countries top clubs. These events, combined with the fact that many WMF coaches work for professional clubs, have seen over 170 WMF players sign for pro clubs. ^{[20] [21] [22]}

References

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