Football
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Ambition
Our ambition is to provide a programme that is recognised for both its quality and its character: one that develops skilled athletes, confident young people, and a lifelong appreciation for sport. We are proud to offer opportunities for broad participation alongside pathways for those with talent and commitment to compete at national and international levels
Excellence in Performance
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Developing skilled athletes through high-quality coaching, competitive opportunities, and performance pathways that enable pupils to compete at regional, national, and international levels.
Participation forLife
Providing inclusive opportunities forall pupils to engage, enjoy, and succeed in sport, fostering a lifelong appreciation forphysical activity,wellbeing, and healthycompetition
INTRODUCTION
At Uppingham Cairo, football is farmore than a game, it is a powerfulvehicle forpersonal growth, character development & lifelongwellbeing. Ourfootball programme is built on the belief that everypupil should have the opportunityto challenge themselves, develop confidence and experience thevalues that sport instils both on & off the pitch.Through a structured pathwayof training, competition & individual development, pupils are encouraged to pursue excellencewhile embracing teamwork, resilience, discipline & respect.
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PROGRAMME CHARACTER & VALUES
A carefully structured, age-appropriate football curriculum that provides pupils with regular opportunities to develop technical skills, tactical understanding, physical fitness & game intelligence. Sessions are designed to build confidence & foster a lifelong appreciation of sport through progressive, high-quality coaching.
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Specialist coaching delivered by experienced football practitioners & sports professionals, combining technical expertise with a deep understanding of player development. The programme focuses on individual skill acquisition, physical literacy, decision-making & the longterm development of each pupil as both an athlete & a person.
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A pathway from foundation skills to competitive excellence. We provide regular competitive opportunities through school fixtures, tournaments, and participation in local and international events.
Avaried and competitive fixtures programme that allows pupils to represent Uppingham Cairo against leading schools, academies & sporting organisations. These experiences help players apply their learning in competitive environments while developing resilience, teamwork, leadership & a winning mentality.
PROGRAMMETIERS
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Performance
The PerformanceTieris designed forpupilswho demonstrate a high level of commitment, abilityand ambitionwithin the Uppingham Cairo Football Programme. Serving ourleading school teams and most promising players, this pathwayprovides an enhanced training environment that mirrors the expectations of eliteyouth football. Sessions focus on advanced technical development, tactical understanding, physical preparation, performance analysis & the psychological aspects of high-level competition. Playerswithin the PerformanceTierbenefit from increased training contact time, regularcompetitive fixtures against strong opposition & opportunities to engagewith specialist coaching delivered through the programme & its partnershipwith Chelsea
The objective is to maximise each player's potentialwhile preparing them forfuture opportunities in academyfootball & higher-level competition.
Development
The DevelopmentTierprovides a structured environment forpupilswho are committed to improving theirgame and developing theirunderstanding of football. Designed forplayerswith strong enthusiasm & potential, this pathwaybridges the gap between participation & performance, ensuring that every pupil has access to high-qualitycoaching & meaningful competitive experiences.Training focuses on building technical proficiency, tactical awareness, physical literacy& confidencewithin a supportiveyet challenging environment. Players are encouraged to develop at theirown pacewhileworking towards progression opportunitieswithin thewiderfootball programme.The DevelopmentTierplays a crucial role in creating depth across all age groups and establishing a clearpathwayinto the PerformanceTier.
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SPECIALIST PROVISION
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Within the Uppingham Cairo Football Programme, specialist player development is embedded into the day-to-day training environment rather than delivered as a separate pathway. Training sessions are carefully designed to incorporate position-specific learning, ensuring that goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders & forwards all receive coaching relevant to the technical, tactical, physical & psychological demands of their roles
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Through tailored practices, game-based learning & individual feedback, players develop a deeperunderstanding of theirpositionwhile maintaining a strong appreciation of the game as awhole.
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Goalkeepers receive dedicated attentionwithin training sessions, focusing on key aspects of the position such as handling, footwork, distribution, communication & decision-making Similarly, outfield players are challenged through position-specific scenarios that develop theirtactical awareness, movement patterns & game intelligence.
Supported byexperienced coaches & informed bythe development principles of the programme ' s partnershipwith Chelsea FC, this integrated approach ensures that all pupils benefit from specialist coachingwithin a cohesive team environment, helping them to maximise theirpotentialwhile contributing effectivelyto collective performancee.
COMPETITION FRAMEWORK 2026-2027
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Football at Uppingham Cairo etxtends beyond weekly training sessions, offering students the oppurtunity to compete regularly in a structured programme of fixtures
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Participation in external football fistures against schools, including other regional tournamnets and being part of BSME (British Schools in the Middle East) allows our pupils to experience competitive football on numerous levels.
These experiences provide valuable exposure to competitive football, helping students develop their technical ability, tactical understanding, teamwork, leadership and resilience while representing the school with pride.
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WHYOUR PROGRAMME?
WHYOUR PROGRAMME?
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The BEST Swimming Academy provides clear pathways for swimmers at every stage of their development. For our youngest swimmers, the focus is on building strong foundations and progressing through recognized swimming awards and milestones, developing confidence, competence, and a lifelong love of the sport.
·The Uppingham Cairo Football Programme is committed to developing the whole player, ensuring that each pupil grows not only as a footballer, but also as a well-rounded individual equipped for long-term success both in sport & in life. Our player development model is built around integrated strands that underpin everything we do. 01 02 02
Technical & tactical development sits at the heart of the programme, with players regularlychallenged through game-based training, position-specific scenarios & structured coaching that enhances skill execution, decision-making & understanding of the game.This is supported bya strong focus on physical development,where pupils build the speed, strength, agility& endurance required to perform consistentlyat a high level, alongside education in injuryprevention & movement quality.
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The psycho-social strand underpins team culture & personal growth, emphasising teamwork, leadership, communication, resilience & respect. In parallel, sports psychology principles are embedded within training & competition environments, helping players develop confidence, focus, emotional control & the ability to perform under pressure.
Together, these strands create a competitve development model that prepares Uppingham Cairo footballers to succeed in competitive sport while developing the character & habits needed for life beyond the game.. 04 04
PROGRAMME LEAD: KANE COWBURN
Playing and Coaching Background
Kanewas a semi-professional central midfield player, known primarilyforhisworkrate and abilityto recoverpossession under pressure. He tookpride in covering ground, breaking up play& supporting both defensive & attacking phases of the game.
Building on his playing experience, Kane has since coached football across theworld,workingwith awide range of clubs and academies.This has given him the opportunityto develop players of all levels, from beginners to elite athletes, adapting his approach to suit different environments.
Coaching Philosophy& Style
Kane’s coaching philosophyfocuses on creating confident, creative players through a high energy, game based approach inspired byexperiences from around theworld and most recently, the Cheslea FC methodology.
Qualifications and Licenses
Academic Qualifications: BAHons Football StudiesWith Business
COACH MAXEDWARDS
Playing and Coaching Background
Exprofessional footballerforSwindon U16’s and Reading U21’s. 6years at Chelsea Football Club. 2 Seasons atArsenal previously.
10years of experience inThe Gothia Cup as Head Coach (World FootballYouth Games in Sweden) U19’s ChelseaWoman’s BlenheimAssistant Coach for2years.
Qualifications and Licenses
UEFAB Licence Coach
Degree in Football Studies
Playing and Coaching Background
Experience as Head Coach andAssistant Coach in several international projects.
WorkedwithYouth andAdults in previous projects.
Coaching Philosophy& Style
Developing the physical, emotional, technical and tactical aspects of the players as an individual and as a group.
COACH JOAO DOMINGOS
Qualifications and Licenses
UEFAB Licence Coach
Master’s in Sports Management
INCLOSING...
Tailored Development and Performance Pathways to support players of all levels and aspirations.
Unified Values alignment between Uppingham Cairo and Chelsea International Football Programme shaping champions of character, discipline, and resilience every day.
Together shaping champions on the pitch and in life."
Thank you for your time and trust. We welcome you to join the Uppingham Cairo & International Chelsea FC Schools Football Programme. For further information or to discuss next steps, please reach out to our team.