The football academy with a difference

The Strachan Football Foundation is a not-for-profit community interest company. SFF was established in 2011 by our director and founder, Gordon Strachan, who wanted to bring together education and football for aspiring students/footballers.

The foundation is committed to creating a learning environment to enable students to develop their personal growth through education, football and experiences at the foundation. We have worked closely with schools, students, parents and education providers to create a leading football education academy.

SFF continues to grow to be the best for its students, and we are constantly looking at furthering the programme. Our facilities are state-of-the-art for both education and football.

Our staff and mentors are among the best in their fields. They are constantly developing and driven by their desire to make every student's experience at the foundation positive.

Open to students between the ages of 16-21. Students could potentially be with the foundation for up to 5 years.


Strachan Foundation Staff

Gordon Strachan

Gordon Strachan

Director / Coach

Gordon enjoyed an illustrious playing career with Dundee, Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds United and Coventry City. During that time, he won some of the most glittering prizes in the game, including the English Division One title (now the Premiership), the FA Cup, the Scottish Premier League and the European Cup Winners’ Cup. Gordon also represented Scotland 50 times – appearing in two World Cups.

He has since managed Coventry City and Southampton in the Premier League and Celtic in the Champions League. Gordon was recently the manager of his national team Scotland, which he described as a dream job and an absolute honour to lead his country for over five years.

George Mackie

Academy Manager & Director 

George plied his trade for Dundee United, Partick Thistle and Odense of the Danish Premier League as a player before moving into coaching with Coventry City, Dundee United, Livingston and Arbroath. George has attained the prestigious UEFA PRO License qualification – the highest honour in coaching.

George has had some outstanding coaching achievements, guiding the Coventry City Youth team to two consecutive FA Youth Cup Finals against Arsenal and West Ham United. 

Craig Strachan

Craig Strachan

Director / Coach 

Craig is a UEFA A qualified coach and is currently a UK and European senior scout for Celtic FC. 

Craig is a former professional footballer at Coventry City and Scotland Youth International from u17 - u21. During this time, he played in two consecutive FA youth cup finals. Craig was forced into retirement at 21 due to a persistent back injury.

Craig was a golf professional for over ten years, bringing experience and knowledge of competing and coaching in professional sports.

Lewis Hudson

Lewis Hudson

Assistant Academy Manager

Lewis is a former student at the Strachan Football Foundation and was interested in coaching before he came to the foundation. His pathway has been two years as a student, a year as an apprentice and now a full-time coach. He has been coaching from a very young age,

Lewis is currently a UEFA B License coach.

Lewis has played for several semi-professional football clubs in and around the Midlands. Including Coventry United, Rugby Town and currently plays for Redditch United.

Kate Page

Kate Page 

Head Of Education

Kate is the Foundation's Head of Education and has a Masters in Education and a PGCE in Post-Compulsory Education.

Kate's other qualifications include a BSc Sports and Exercise Degree, Level 2 in  Safeguarding and Level 2 Certificate in Awareness of Mental Health Problems.

Kate is a keen footballer and is the current First Team Goalkeeper for Coalville Town Ladies FC.

Kate's favourite thing about teaching is interacting with the students and seeing them succeed. 

Gavin Strachan

Director / Coach

Gavin is a former professional footballer, having played over 200 games at all levels in England, also representing Scotland at the  u21 level. Gavin has transferred his knowledge and experience throughout his playing career into his coaching. Gavin has obtained the highest coaching and managing qualification, the UEFA PRO License.

The current first-team coach at Celtic FC. Gavin has also been the Assitant manager at both Peterborough United and Doncaster Rovers.

Gavin has also held positions as the u18s and U23s at Peterborough United and Watford FC. He has a proven track record of developing young players into first-team players.

Gavin achieved a first-class honours degree in professional sports writing and broadcasting during his playing career.

Steve Orgrizovic

Steve Orgrizovic

Goalkeeper Coach 

Steve has been working with the foundation for the last two seasons.

In an illustrious goalkeeping career, he played 601 times for the Coventry, becoming the Club’s record appearance maker, and was a vital part of the 1987 FA Cup win and City’s time in the top flight of English football.

During his time at Coventry, Steve took up various roles including Academy Manager, Reserve Team Manager and Caretaker Manager, before he became Goalkeeping Coach in 2008

A true gentleman of the game and a privilege to have at the foundation.


Location

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Strachan Football Foundation is set in Warwickshire, it has excellent transport links, which makes it a fantastic location for students in surrounding areas. Education and training are based at Warwick University.

There are major rail links at Coventry train station and many bus routes directly to the University.  


Schedule and Dates

SFF  follows the Coventry education term times.

We also allow the students to join us in pre-season training that starts in the second week of July.

Weekly Schedule

MorningLunchAfternoon
MondayEducation or TrainingEducation or Training
TuesdayEducation or TrainingEducation or Training
WednesdayGame DayGame Day
ThursdayHome StudyHome Study
FridayEducation or TrainingEducation or Training
SaturdayGame DayGame Day