Inside the Academy: How We Build Men’s First Team & Youth Pathways in London

When people hear “Casual Ballerz”, a lot of them think of the men’s first team.

Non-league football. Step 8 of the English pyramid. Long away trips. Tight pitches. Late goals.

But behind that first team is a much bigger idea:

to build a pathway from youth to semi-pro for young people who might otherwise be overlooked.

Our London football structure connects:

• Men’s first team

• U17s and youth sides

• Community sessions that act as gateways for younger players

It’s not a closed shop. It’s not a “you’re in or you’re out” environment. It’s a ladder.

We care about:

• Providing serious football for serious players who want to compete

• Offering development environments for players who are still figuring things out

• Making sure that even if someone doesn’t “make it”, they leave with life skills, contacts and confidence

  

Our funding plan is to secure a full-time Youth Development Coach & Mentor whose day-to-day job is just that: build and protect the pathway.

From the outside, it might just look like football.

From the inside, it’s about keeping 16–25 year olds away from the edges and giving them something bigger to commit to.

We believe that non-league clubs like ours can act as anchors in young people’s lives – not just stepping stones.