Erasmus+ Player Placement Programme
Introduction
League Football Education (LFE) secures Erasmus+ funding to send footballers on a Player
Placement Programme to football clubs in Europe.
The programme is approved by the European Commission on an annual basis.
The aim is to provide former Apprentices and 1st Year Professionals (18-19 year olds) released from
clubs within the Premier League, Championship, League One, League Two and the Conference
National with an opportunity to continue their football career in a different country.
This is a unique opportunity for European clubs to recruit and accommodate fully funded players.
Please take some time to read through the information in this pack to ensure you are comfortable
with what is required from a participating club.
Kind regards,
League Football Education.
Aims and Objective of the Placement
The below aims and objectives have been agreed with the funding body and where possible should
be achieved during the placement period.
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To achieve both quantitative and qualitative improvements in the development of the
participants as footballers
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To improve the participants knowledge and understanding of Lifelong Learning principles
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To improve the participants knowledge and understanding of the European opportunities in
football and other careers
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To deliver a high quality social and cultural programme including the use of the host language
to an intermediary level
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To achieve a professional football contract at a European Club and/or as an employee/trainee
in Europe in an alternative career
From an employability perspective we would also envisage time to be set aside for a discussion
forum on career development, career aspirations and the participant’s future at home or abroad.
This could be facilitated through either formal or informal sessions.
It is also expected that a programme of social and cultural integration will be undertaken so that the
participant can familiarise themselves with the wider town and country.
Club Contract
Player Placement – Letter of Commitment
We, (insert club)..……………………………………………………………….., fully commit to a 13 week
placement running from (insert date)…………………………. to (insert date) …….…………………. inclusive.
During this time we will provide a full football, social and cultural development programme for the
player, providing support and guidance where appropriate and as detailed in the “Expectations of
the Host Club” section of the information pack.
Apart from in the event of an emergency or other extenuating circumstances we confirm that we
will host the participant for the duration of the programme.
Finally, should we not undertake any of the above in the appropriate manner we understand that
LFE reserve the right to withhold payment or remove the player(s) in our care and return them back
to the UK.
Furthermore we understand that should the situation of removal arise we will be responsible for the
full cost of the placement programme.
SIGNATURE: ________________________________
NAME:
________________________________
TITLE:
________________________________
DATE:
________________________________
LFE Responsibilities
Funding
LFE provides funding to cover the cost of the participants:
 Accommodation
 Food
 Travel Costs
LFE will provide details of set dates when clubs will receive payments, invoices will need to be sent
directly to LFE at the start of these weeks for payment to be made.
Support
LFE are here to support you for the duration of the programme, therefore it is vital that we establish
good lines of communications.
In the event of any issues/problems arising with the placement or within the Club please report
these immediately so we can ensure a swift response and the problem can be resolved in the
interest of all parties.
Contact Details
Contact Details
Office Hours (8.30am - 5pm)
Name
Organisation
Simon Williams
LFE
Sarah Stonehouse
LFE
Number
+44 870
+44 758
+44 870
+44 775
Email
4589250
1313694
4589250
3343394
swilliams@lfe.org.uk
sstonehouse@lfe.org.uk
Out of Office Hours – EMERGENCY ONLY (5pm - 8.30am)
Emergency contact
Dan Jolley
LFE
+44 7876 500350
djolley@lfe.org.uk
Expectations of the Host Club
The following list of expectations outlines the commitment that you as a host Club make to the
programme. Please bear in mind these responsibilities when making your decision to enter the
programme.
Budget
Costs will vary and LFE will confirm these upon receipt of a signed letter of commitment.
This funding is to contribute/cover the cost of the following:
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Accommodation
Food
Flights
Internet access
Language course
*Up to the amount provided by LFE, any costs incurred outside of this will be the responsibility of
the Club.
The Club is also responsible for providing:
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Player’s weekly allowances (the equivalent of 75-80 Euros)
Travel costs to and from matches
Training kit
Gym access
Through the Erasmus+ funding and with the backing of our Board, consisting of the Football League
and the Professional Football Association, LFE is in a position to guarantee fulfilling all financial
contractual agreements.
LFE will ensure that all costs mentioned in the above paragraph up to a total of €3900 per player is
paid in full to the club, upon receipt of appropriate invoices/receipts.
For any payments made that are LFE’s responsibility invoices are to be collected by the club from
the external suppliers e.g. accommodation, food and travel. It is then the clubs responsibility to
send these invoices to LFE at:
League Football Education
Edward VII Quay
Navigation Way
Preston
PR2 2YF
LFE commit to make payments within 10 working days after receipt of the invoice. Please include
the following information your invoices:
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Full name and address of the bank
Account number
Swift number
IBAN number
If you are unsure who is responsible for a particular cost please confirm this with LFE before making
the purchase.
Mentor
You will be responsible for providing a ‘mentor’ for the participant who will act as a day to day point
of contact within the Club and will be there to support the participant for the duration of their stay.
It will be the mentor’s responsibility to orientate the participant upon their arrival, showing them
round the area and introducing them to their new Club.
Travel
Should it be necessary for any additional travel arrangements to be made for the participant please
support the participant in terms of appropriate methods of travel, timing, directions and any other
queries they may have. It will also be the Clubs responsibility to ensure the participant is collected
and returned to the airport safely.
Accommodation
Participants need to be provided with suitable accommodation for the duration of their stay, this
could be either self catering accommodation or permanent accommodation in a hotel. It is possible
that it can be shared but each individual must have their own sleeping space. This accommodation
needs to include access to/budget for:
Food – 3 meals per day, either in the hotel restaurant or within 5 minutes walking distance of the
accommodation, or a food allowance provided for self catering facilities.
Laundry – Laundry facilities need to be available, again in the hotel or within close proximity.
Internet – Access to the internet must be easy and reliable and of zero cost to allow the player to
keep in contact with family/friends and LFE.
*Please ensure that if any problems arise with the accommodation i.e. additional costs, damaged
items, that LFE are informed at the point this occurs.*
Full details of participant’s accommodation/food and laundry facilities including address
information must be provided to LFE before commencement of the placement.
Player’s Allowance
Each participant should be paid a weekly allowance of a minimum €75 per week. This is to be paid
directly to the participant in cash by the host Club on every Friday of the placement.
Activities
Schedule
In order to enhance the players experience the club must provide a detailed itinerary for the player
for the full period (excluding public holidays). This should include:
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Any club training
Scheduled matches
Additional training
Social activities
Language course
Coaching opportunities
The training programme needs to include/detail the following:
1. Training programme with the Club
2. Additional supplementary training (i.e. to ensure full time training if not already undertaken
by the Club)
3. Training venue
4. Training dates and times
Gym – Provision should also be made for the player to access a Gym/Swimming facility to undertake
additional conditioning/weight training
Social and Cultural Programme
Language course – Where possible a language course needs to be arranged for this can be an
evening class or school programme or any other suitable alternative.
Insurance
LFE will purchase the appropriate travel insurance and also ensure that the player has acquired the
European Health Insurance Card. The necessary football/medical insurance must be put in place by
the host Club.
The Spirit of the Programme
It is expected that both the Club and Player enter into the spirit of the programme by fully committing
to all elements of the programme and its duration. This spirit is one of development and growth for
both Player and Club alike. It is also expected that both parties respect the fact that the European
Funding programme has made this opportunity possible and have to respect the funding protocols
in place.
What you will get out of the programme
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The opportunity to diversify your squad with Players who have been trained by Clubs from
the English football League.
Create a partnership with LFE to continue your involvement in this scheme.
Create links with English Football Players/Clubs for future player migration
Making your player decision
We have already establish a list of player who have expressed an interest in this opportunity, this
will formulate the basis of you decision. However if you have a particular request i.e. a particular
position that you need filling advise an LFE member of staff and we will endeavour to find an
appropriate player.
Replay Analysis
LFE have developed a partnership with Replay Analysis, Replay Analysis deliver an exciting and
innovative video analysis service for our apprentices, collecting footage from players throughout the
season which is then made available using their online facility.
The Replay Analysis service is very straightforward to use, simply log in online at
www.replayanalysis.com.
Username: lfeplayers@lfe.org.uk
Password: lfetrials
Player/Club Contractual agreements
Whilst on programme clubs must be prepared to allow players the opportunity to trial or train with
clubs in higher divisions and must make every effort to accommodate this into the players schedule,
however should a clash in schedules occur the player must attend the training session of his original
club.
What happens after the programme?
Once the programme is complete, players and clubs are entitled to negotiate a formal playing
contract providing there is mutual interest in prolonging the contract. Please be aware that once the
agreed placement has been finished LFE will no longer be in a position to offer any financial support.