Editorial Policy

Football Parent is an independent website. The guidance here is shaped by one question: what does a football parent actually need to know?

This page explains how content is researched, written, reviewed and maintained - and what our commitment to independence means in practice.

Mission

Football Parent exists to give UK football families clear, honest, independent guidance on navigating the youth football pathway.

We are not affiliated with any club, academy, coaching provider or agent service. We do not write to reflect well on any organisation and we are not paid to reach particular conclusions.

The site may be funded through affiliate income from relevant product recommendations. That commercial activity does not influence editorial content.

How we research content

Most articles on Football Parent draw on a combination of:

First-hand experience. The site is founded and primarily written by Graham Jenner, a football parent whose son has attended development centres run by Crystal Palace and Chelsea. Where content draws on that experience directly, it is written as such.

Published guidance from trusted football organisations. This includes material from the FA, the Premier League, the English Football League and other relevant football bodies. Where official documentation is referenced, it is linked where publicly available.

Publicly available club and academy information. Club websites, official academy information and published policies are used to provide accurate and current information about specific programmes.

Other football parents.Conversations with parents inform the kinds of questions this site addresses. No individual parent's experience is treated as universally representative.

We do not rely on anonymous sources or unverified claims. Where something is uncertain or varies between clubs, we say so clearly.

Source standards

We prioritise:

• Official FA documentation and published guidance
• Premier League and EFL EPPP framework documents
• Statements and published information from clubs and academies
• Academic or sporting science research from recognised institutions
• Reputable sports journalism from established UK outlets

We are sceptical of:

• Unattributed claims
• Social media posts as primary sources
• Forum opinion presented as fact
• Commercially motivated information from parties with a financial interest

When a source is used to support a factual claim, it is either linked directly or described clearly enough that a reader could verify it.

Fact-checking

Before publication, factual claims are checked against at least one primary source wherever possible. For content covering rules, eligibility criteria or official processes, we check against the most current published version of the relevant governing body documentation.

Where we cannot verify a claim, we either omit it or make clear that it is uncertain.

We acknowledge that the youth football system changes. Age group requirements, programme structures and club offerings evolve over time. Readers should verify current details directly with the relevant club or organisation before making decisions.

Article review process

Articles are written and reviewed by Graham Jenner. Football Parent is currently a single-author site, and we are transparent about that.

Every piece of content published here represents a considered editorial decision. Nothing is published simply to hit a content quota.

Corrections policy

If something on this site is factually wrong, we want to know. Accuracy matters more than protecting what has already been published.

To report an error, email: footballparentuk@gmail.com and describe the specific claim you believe to be incorrect.

If a factual error is confirmed, we will:

1. Correct the article promptly
2. Add a brief note where the change is substantive and useful for readers
3. Update the article's review or modified date where used

Update policy

Youth football information can become outdated. Programme names change, clubs restructure development setups and official guidance can be revised.

We aim to review high-traffic and time-sensitive articles, such as content about development centres, trial processes or age group rules, at least once a year or sooner if we become aware of relevant changes.

Independence statement

Football Parent is not affiliated with, sponsored by or editorially influenced by any football club, academy, coaching company, agency or commercial organisation in the football industry.

Content is not written in exchange for access to clubs or academies, and we do not accept payment to produce or modify editorial content.

Affiliate disclosure

Football Parent may earn commission on some purchases made through links on this site. This applies primarily to product recommendations, such as football boots, training equipment or relevant books.

Affiliate income helps fund the running of the site. It does not influence what is recommended. Where an affiliate link is used, it should be disclosed within the relevant content.

Affiliate relationships do not extend to clubs, academies, coaching providers or any football organisation. No editorial content is written in exchange for commission or referral income.

Contact

If you have questions or topics you would like covered, you can get in touch at: footballparentuk@gmail.com.

Last reviewed: June 2026