UDA Men’s High-Performance Squad — 2025/26 Season Launch

Following last season’s pilot match against Derby County FC U18s, we’re excited to announce the official launch of the Men’s High-Performance Squad for the 2025/26 season — an opportunity designed to challenge and develop players who consistently excel both on and off the field.

The UDA High-Performance Squad will include standout players from both the University of Chester (UoC) and University of Gloucestershire (UoG) programs who demonstrate exceptional performance in training and competition, as well as strong professionalism and leadership away from the game.

To be considered, players must:

• Meet the required fitness benchmarks, as advised by our Strength & Conditioning team (Physical)
• Demonstrate advanced technical skill and execution (Technical)
• Show strong game awareness and positional understanding (Tactical)
• Uphold UDA standards for character, motivation, and commitment (Social)

Program Touchpoints

• Touchpoint 1: Training Day at UoG — Wednesday, October 29, 2025 (fixture TBC)
• Touchpoint 2: Showcase match vs. a professional academy (pre-Christmas)
• Touchpoint 3: International Training Camp — January 2026 (TBC)
• Touchpoint 4: Training Day(s) — Easter 2026

Please note:
The squad will not be fixed. Players selected for Touchpoint 1 (invites going out this week) are not guaranteed future selection, and players not initially chosen will have opportunities to earn a place later in the season.

This initiative represents an exciting collaboration between our programs, providing a platform for our top-performing players to experience a more professional environment and accelerated development.

As our Women’s Programs continue to grow, we plan to introduce a similar opportunity for them in the near future.