Academy Staff

Academy Management & Coaching Staff

Paul Grey - Academy Managing Director

Paul began his dream to open UK-Football Academy early in 2009 which was then based in Blackpool England, the Academy has reached its 3rd successful year as a player development centre and is gathering strength and global recognition on a monthly basis. After successfully placing several players into semi & Professional Clubs in the UK and in France it was decided to move Academy operations to Luton, 18 miles north of London.

UK-Football Academy continue to place talented players into the league system with Semi & Professional Football Clubs.

Ben Dowsett - Head Coach (UEFA Licensed)

Ben began coaching in early 2002 with QPR, working for the community

and female schemes and a role with the youth academy. After success

with the Girls centre of excellence, he moved onto Watford FC, working

with the Boys academy squads across Hertfordshire, Girls Centre of

excellence, the Watford youth academy and spent time working with Alec

Chamberlain, transferring what he learnt to the Womens 1st team in the

Tesco Ladies Premier League. Within the Watford Ladies 1st he has

worked with a long line of current international and young

professional footballers, that have progressed with Ben, from u14 to

senior football. These include England keeper Lauren Davey, Chloe

Crook, Megan Wynne, Sarah Wiltshire, Sally Wade and Leanne Jones.

Ben has also held roles as Assisatnt head coach (womens premier

league), head technical coach (Brazilian soccer-Futsal) and Head

goalkeeper coach in his last decade coaching. As well as his work in

female football, Ben has been a goalkeeper specialist for Watford FC,

Uk football academy and England ladies EPC u15s. Currently Ben has

been working with elite players between the ages 16 to 20 year olds

within various academy squads, focusing of team ethic and footballing

development, allowing them to perform and play at the highest level

possible. Including the above internationals, Ben has helped develop

players currently in Watford FC development squads.

With UK-Football academy, it is Ben's goal to develop each individual

player to function within a team with versatility and reliability,

showing a high technical aptitude and the potential for further

development.

Phil Babb (Former Liverpool FC & Republic of Ireland Centre Back)

FA Player Agent

Phil began his career within the youth team at Millwall. In 1990 he made his league football debut aged 19 for Bradford City, scored with his first ever touch as a professional and never looked back. He moved to Coventry City in July 1992 for a fee of £500,000, where he spent two seasons and became the youngest Premier League Captain at that time. After starring in the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup campaign in 1994, he made the switch to Liverpool for a fee of £3.6million, which made him the most expensive defender in Britain. After 6 seasons at Anfield, Phil moved to Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon joining Manchester Utd Legend Peter Schmeichel and won the League and Cup ‘double’ before returning to the Premier League with Sunderland and retiring in 2004. Phil has 35 International appearances for Eire, 2 Wembley Cup Final appearances, 2 Champion’s League Appearances and brings 17 years worth of playing experience with him.

Luke Sainsbury (UEFA A Licensed) Player Trials and Football Consultant

Luke embarked on his coaching career in 1996 at Fulham FC where he worked for their community scheme and youth academy. He later moved onto Crystal palace FC youth academy where he worked with most of the young professionals that are currently progressing through the ranks into their 1st team including John Bostcock (Tottenham Hotspur) and Sean Scannell (Crystal Palace FC). Over the last three seasons Luke has been working with elite 16 to 19 year olds outside of professional football trying to get them to the highest level possible. During this period he managed players that have gone onto professional clubs with Stefan Payne being signed to Fulham FC and later Gillingham FC on professional contracts and Harry Hardy was signed to a two year scholarship at Reading FC. Prior to this Luke worked with players such as Mitchell Nelson (Bournemouth AFC), Max Gradel (Leeds United) and Dominic Green (Peterborough United)