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2025-06-30-accounts

LEAGUE FOOTBALL EDUCATION

Trustees’ Annual Strategic Report and Financial Statements

A Company Limited by Guarantee For the Year Ended 30 June 2025

Registered Company Number: 05143284 Registered Charity Number: 1104917

LEAGUE FOOTBALL EDUCATION 30 June 2025 Trustees’ annual strategic report and financial statements

Contents

Trustees’ Annual Strategic Report & Reference and Administrative Details 3
Independent Auditors' Report to the Members of League Football Education 10
Statement of Financial Activities (incorporating Income & Expenditure Account) 14
Balance Sheet 15
Statement of Cash Flows 16
Notes to the financial statements 17

LEAGUE FOOTBALL EDUCATION 30 June 2025 Trustees’ annual strategic report and financial statements

Trustees’ Annual Strategic Report Reference and Administrative Details

The Trustees, who act as Directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2025.

Charity registration number 1104917
Company registration number 05143284
Principal and registered address EFL House
10–12 West Cliff
Preston
PR1 8HU
Trustees M Molango
P Coyle
N Craig
J Tagg (appointed on 10th January 2025)
Chief Executive Officer S Stephen
Company Secretary S Stephen
Members The Professional Footballers’ Association
The Football League Limited
Bankers Barclays Bank plc
PO Box 357
51 Mosley Street
Manchester
M2 3HQ
Auditor Saffery LLP
10 Wellington Place
Leeds
LS1 4AP
Legal advisor Mills and Reeve Solicitors LLP
1 Circle Square
Symphony Park
Manchester
M1 7FS
Wrigleys Solicitors LLP
3rdFloor, 3 Wellington Place
Leeds
LS1 4AP

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LEAGUE FOOTBALL EDUCATION 30 June 2025 Trustees’ annual strategic report and financial statements

Trustees’ Annual Strategic Report (continued)

The Trustees, who act as Directors for the purposes of company law, are pleased to present their annual trustees’ strategic report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30 June 2025 which are prepared to meet the requirements for a directors’ report, a strategic report and accounts for Companies Act purposes.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the notes to the accounts and comply with the charity’s governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) effective 1 January 2019.

Structure, Governance and Management

League Football Education (LFE) is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 2 June 2004 and registered as a charity on 15 July 2004. LFE is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association adopted on 16 June 2004 and subsequently amended on 28 July 2010, 7 September 2012 and 20 October 2025.

Trustees

The Trustees are listed on page 3.

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the overall governance of LFE. Each member of LFE is entitled to appoint up to two Trustees. Trustees are appointed by the members and, due to the background and experience of the Trustees appointed, a good understanding of LFE’s business and of the Charity sector in general is already known therefore limiting any training requirements. However, on appointment new Trustees are provided with an overview of LFE, its aims and objectives, business processes and risk strategy together with the Charity Commission’s expectations of Trustees. Following the recent change to the articles, the process for recruitment of a new Independent Non-Executive Director (INED) is now in progress.

The Board plan to meet at least quarterly however additional meetings are scheduled should the need arise. The Board approve annual operating plans and budgets and an annual AGM is utilised to approve the Accounts and appoint External Auditors.

The income and assets of the Charity shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the Objects and no part shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly, by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise by way of profit, to members of the Charity.

Every member of the Charity undertakes to contribute such amount as may be required (not exceeding £10) to the Charity's assets if it should be wound up.

The Trustees retain the oversight of the financial and operational activities of the Charity and are responsible for the recruitment and performance of the Chief Executive Officer.

The Trustees meet annually to review the pay and remuneration of the Senior Leadership Team (comprising of Chief Executive Officer, Head of Academy Education, Head of Curriculum & Quality and Head of Player Care & Communications) and in conjunction with the Chief Executive Officer, pay is set according to the market rate at the time and comparisons made with similar roles in other organisations within the industry.

Organisational Structure

Day to day management of LFE is delegated to the Chief Executive Officer who is responsible for implementing policy as agreed by the Trustees. The Chief Executive Officer ensures the Trustees are informed of all financial, operational and strategic developments and ensures all material transactions receive Trustee approval. LFE is committed to maintaining the highest possible standards to meet its social, moral and legal responsibilities to safeguard the welfare of every learner and works in partnership with the Football League Limited operating under the brand name English Football League (EFL) and The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) in order to achieve this. The Chief Executive Officer also has overall responsibility for the safeguarding of the learners.

The Chief Executive Officer is supported by the Senior Leadership Team and staff are split into educational and support teams. The educational team manage the delivery of education ensuring co-ordination between the learners, employers and educational partners. The support team provide administrative and management support

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LEAGUE FOOTBALL EDUCATION 30 June 2025 Trustees’ annual strategic report and financial statements

Trustees’ Annual Strategic Report (continued)

to the education team and all stakeholders ensuring that the fundamental company functions such as Quality Assurance, Finance, HR, IT and MIS are all delivered effectively.

The LFE Board consists of representatives from The Professional Footballers’ Association and The Football League Limited. LFE provide educational and vocational training for apprentice footballers aged 16 to 18 who aspire to progress to professional footballer status at the end of their Level 3 Sporting Excellence Professional (SEP) Apprenticeship. LFE has a key responsibility to ensure apprentices’ personal development and employability skills are catered for given that a high percentage do not achieve professional footballer status and therefore seek alternative positive destinations such as other employment, training or further education. LFE also ensure that the clubs running a full-time or hybrid youth development programme at under 16 sufficiently monitor the educational progress of these players within the academy system to ensure they are not educationally disadvantaged.

SEP is supported and delivered by a variety of tutors, assessors and education officers based at the football club academies. Wider education is delivered by highly experienced and motivated tutors at Further Education Colleges or with the football club environment to suit the needs of the employers. LFE currently engage with 68 Professional Football Clubs (63 out of the 72 EFL Clubs, 1 Premier League club and 4 clubs from the National League). In addition to the apprenticeship programme LFE also delivers a 16-19 study programme within 12 EFL Football club charities (FCCs), in conjunction with their Community, Education Football Alliance (CEFA) Games Programme, with approximately 600 learners.

Financial review

The Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA), Balance Sheet, Statement of Cash Flows and notes to the accounts are set out on subsequent pages. The SoFA details total incoming resources of £12.676m, of which £12.475m is income from charitable activities and £201k represents income from cash deposits during the year. The income from charitable activities includes £6.722m from the Department for Education (DfE) for the 16-18 apprenticeship delivery and a further £3.392m in respect of the 16-18 study programme. £1.642m was received from the Professional Footballers’ Association to support the work we carry out with the professional football clubs and their associated apprentices, together with £500k from The Football League Limited. A further £133k of income was received from clubs in respect of the co-investment required by the DfE for employers to contribute towards the cost of their apprenticeship training, together with £86k for transition activities funded by the Turing Scheme.

During the year resources consumed totalled £11.951m. Of this, £8.171m was spent on the provision of education and training, £2.871m was spent on staff costs and £823k was spent on other support costs together with the costs associated with the Turing Scheme programme of £86k. The surplus for the year ended 30 June 2025 was £726k compared to £140k for the year ended 30 June 2024.

Total income increased by £799k, predominantly due to the additional income of £500k from The EFL, this income is to support the wider education programme together with transition activities in future years. The income from the DfE also increased overall by £364k, with an increase of £563k on the apprenticeship programme due to the increased funding per apprentice, conversely a reduction of £199k study programme revenue due to reduced learner numbers, following a planned reduction in enrolments in September 2024. The employer co-investment contributions reduced by £8k and interest received also reduced by £39k, due to slightly lower interest rates. The Turing Scheme funding also slightly reduced by £18k.

During the year ended 30 June 2025 there was an increase in total expenditure of £214k, predominantly caused by an increase of £248k in respect of staff costs offset by a reduction of £115k in respect of the direct provision of education and training and a further increase of £98k in other support costs, partially offset by a saving of £17k in respect of the Turing scheme costs.

The charity had an unrestricted funds balance of £3,724,715 as at 30[th] June 2025 compared to £2,999,074 as at 30[th] June 2024. These unrestricted funds are available for general purposes and there are considered to be no commitments against these funds for any liability that has not been accrued for. The Trustees are currently discussing different options for the use of these funds following the additional funding from The EFLof £500k in the year to 30[th] June 2025.

Fundraising

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LEAGUE FOOTBALL EDUCATION 30 June 2025 Trustees’ annual strategic report and financial statements

LFE do not carry out fundraising activities. All funding is received from either the DfE or the members of the charity on an annual basis. There are no plans to carry out fundraising activities in the future.

Trustees’ Annual Strategic Report (continued)

Risk Review

A review of the risks faced by LFE was conducted during the year and systems established to mitigate those risks. LFE has identified the business risks it faces and has documented these within its development plan and updates them annually in the form of a risk matrix. The current most significant risks to LFE are the external financial risks which include concerns regarding the long-term sustainability of Football Clubs and their academy operations, particularly following the closure of another academy during the 2024/25 season.

The external risks are those associated with government funded educational programmes. Historically 16–18 year-old apprenticeships were fully funded by the government, however following the implementation of the Apprenticeship Levy all employers must now contribute towards the cost of apprenticeship training. This together with the year on year increase in apprentice minimum wage may result in smaller cohort sizes in future years, given employers provide an apprenticeship programme for approximately 18 apprentices over a two year period. Over a seven-year period the national minimum wage for apprentices has increased by more than 70% so for a club that employs 18 apprentices within their youth department at any one time has an annual cost of £180k, compared to a cost of £98k seven years ago. As minimum wages continue to increase this may affect the number of apprentices recruited by the clubs in future.

All employers throughout the UK with an annual payroll bill of more than £3m are subject to paying the Apprenticeship Levy. The levy fee is 0.5% of the employers’ payroll costs in excess of £3m, which is used by the employer to pay for the education of their apprentices via the PAYE system and managed through their Apprenticeship Service account. Over 85% of the employers that LFE currently provide education and training to are subject to paying the Apprenticeship Levy however over half of these employers do not pay enough Apprenticeship Levy to cover the whole cost of their apprenticeship training and as a result of this, these employers have to co-invest a further 5% of their shortfall in Levy paid.

A further risk is that of the long-term sustainability of Football Clubs given wider financial issues affecting the game as a whole. This could potentially be part of their decision-making process to maybe close their academy operations, which will in turn impact on the revenue and the number of learners LFE take care of.

IT and Cyber security are also considered to be higher than average risk, due to this the IT security has been increased during the 2024/25 year and will continue to be an area of focus due to increased cyber attacks.

After due consideration, the Trustees consider that League Football Education has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, it continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing these financial statements. Full details are within note 1 of the financial statements.

Trustees are fully appraised at regular Trustee meetings and between meetings of any issues that impact upon the management of risk.

Reserves policy

The Trustees are aware of the need to hold sufficient unrestricted reserves to enable completion of the educational programme for all learners on programme. The DfE income continues to be the largest risk factor for LFE. Traditionally the reserves policy was to establish 40% of prior year income with the explicit aim of ensuring support was given to all existing learners. During 2018/19 some of the reserves were used to support the rollout of the delivery of the new Sporting Excellence Performance (SEP) Standard at Football Clubs across England. Following the partial use of the reserves it was agreed that reserves of 25% of the prior year income would be appropriate. The unrestricted reserves as at 30[th] June 2025 now stand at £3.725m which is now above the target of 25% of prior year income. The Trustees believe this would be sufficient to ensure support could be provided to all existing learners while allowing LFE the time necessary to restructure its business model and remain sustainable for the long term, should the need arise in future. Given that the reserves have now exceed the target, the Trustees are currently assessing different options for the use of part of these funds, particularly, following the additional funding from The EFL, of £500k in the year to 30[th] June 2025.

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LEAGUE FOOTBALL EDUCATION 30 June 2025 Trustees’ annual strategic report and financial statements

Trustees’ Annual Strategic Report (continued)

Objectives and Activities

The Charity's objects ("the Objects") are the advancement of education for the public benefit, in particular, but not exclusively, for apprentice footballers, professional footballers and retired professional footballers.

Public benefit test

From 1 April 2008 the Charities Act 2006 requires all charities to meet the legal requirement that its aims are for the public benefit. The Charity Commission in its “Charities and Public Benefit” guidance states that there are two key principles to be met to demonstrate that an organisation’s aims are for the public benefit: firstly, there must be an identifiable benefit and secondly, that the benefit must be to the public or a section of the public. The Trustees have considered this guidance when planning the activities of the charity and this report sets out the objectives and strategic aims of the charity and its achievements during the year.

LFE provide education and holistic support to those recruited as potential professional footballers irrespective of their race, religion, location or prior educational attainment. LFE also provide Post16 education to a wider section of the community at 12 FCCs across England, many of these learners come from disadvantaged backgrounds and are often inspired to continue with their education after school age within a football environment.

The Trustees are satisfied that the aims and objectives of the charity and the activities reported on in this annual report to achieve those aims, meet these principles.

Achievements and performance

LFE has key operational targets to achieve each year and these are shown in the tables below:

Professional Development Phase
Football Apprentices
2024/25
Key Targets
2024/25
Results
2025/26
Key Targets
Recruitment - Apprentices >570 574 >600
Retention – Apprentices >95% 98% 97%
SEP – Apprentices through Gateway >90% 97% 95%
SEP - Achievement of all EPA aspects >87% 97% 90%

Although LFE has now seen 18 cohorts of apprentices complete the apprenticeship programme, this was only the fourth full cohort of apprentices to complete the SEP Apprenticeship. LFE met or exceeded all four key apprenticeship targets, as set out above, the highlights of which were retention rates of 98% and overall achievement rates of the new standard of 97%, these results continue to be outstanding.

Full-time Study Programme 2024/25
Key Targets
2024/25
Results
2025/26
Key Targets
On Programme – Post 16 education <625 617 <600
Retention – Post 16 education >80% 75% >80%
Achievement Main Aim - Post 16 education >80% 75% >80%

LFE recruited a higher than expected number of Post 16 learners during 2023/24 and the retention rate was below target for the year due to various factors, including some learners choosing not to continue the second year of their course, which has impacted these results. The learners that remained committed and stayed on programme achieved their main aim at the end of their two-year programme. As a result of this LFE restricted the recruitment at some FCC’s which included stricter recruitment and behaviour processes ensuring the programme is right for the learner at the outset.

Ofsted Inspection

In February 2024 LFE was inspected by Ofsted and was again graded ‘Outstanding’ across all key judgements, including Quality of Education, Behaviour & Attitudes, Personal Development and Leadership & Management. This outstanding achievement was reinforced by the successful renewal of both the Investors in People and The Matrix Standard which are further endorsements of the excellent work LFE carries out with its learners across both the Apprenticeship and Study Programme.

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LEAGUE FOOTBALL EDUCATION 30 June 2025 Trustees’ annual strategic report and financial statements

Trustees’ Annual Strategic Report (continued)

The Trustees believe that these recent independent reviews alongside the wider programme of audit checks conducted within the education sector and the excellent retention and achievement rates provide all stakeholders with the confidence they require in the governance, management, and delivery mechanisms of LFE.

Related parties

The details of the related party transactions during the year are shown in note 16 of the financial statements. During the year LFE delivered the training and education of apprentice footballers on behalf of The Football League Limited and The Professional Footballers’ Association.

LFE is based at EFL House, the Preston office of the EFL, and as such LFE pay the EFL for the rental of office space together with various associated costs, amounting to £211,848 during the year ended 30[th] June 2025 compared to £132,200 in 2023/24.

The educational costs, including the provision of A-Levels, together with a substantial life skills programme and transition activities were all supported by funding of £1.642m from The Professional Footballers’ Association and a further £500k from The Football League Limited during the year ending 30[th] June 2025.

Plans for future periods

During 2025/26 LFE will continue to embed the delivery of the SEP Apprenticeship and support for the apprentices’ end point assessment on, what is still a relatively new updated programme with regular system developments to help support continued improvements. There are new Apprentice Assessment reforms due to be developed during 2025/26 which LFE will be involved in developing, this will result in further changes and staff CPD to be rolled out nationwide before implementation for the next cohort of apprentices.

LFE continue to expand the Life Skills and Player Care offer to all apprentices given that they are training to perform at the highest level within Football and not all apprentices will achieve this. While doing so, LFE will endeavour to maintain its excellent position regarding retention and achievement together with developing young people that are ready for their next stages in life. LFE will continue to work with Professional Football Clubs to establish different delivery models that suits different employers to ensure the sustainability of the high-quality education that LFE provide, as recently endorsed by Ofsted.

In addition to the apprenticeship programme LFE has now recruited a further cohort of learners on to the 16-19 study programme within 12 FCC’s in conjunction with the CEFA Games Programme. The 2025/26 year will see a further small reduction in overall learner numbers, due to a more stringent recruitment process, setting out the high expectations of the programme from the outset as many Post 16 learners look for alternative educational provision away from the traditional sixth form or college environment. We will work in partnership with the FCC’s to ensure the aims of the programme meet the aims and expectations of LFE and provide a stepping stone at age 18 or 19 into employment or higher education, inspiring those school leavers to engage in Post 16 education through the power of football.

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LEAGUE FOOTBALL EDUCATION 30 June 2025 Trustees’ annual strategic report and financial statements

Trustees’ Annual Strategic Report (continued)

Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities

The trustees (who are also directors of League Football Education for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In so far as the trustees are aware:

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the reparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

The trustees’ annual strategic report was approved by the Board of Trustees and was signed on its behalf by:

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Maheta Molango

Trustee EFL House 10-12 West Cliff Preston PR1 8HU

Date: 16/12/2025

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LEAGUE FOOTBALL EDUCATION 30 June 2025 Trustees’ annual strategic report and financial statements

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of League Football Education

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of League Football Education for the year ended 30 June 2025 which comprise Statement of Financial Activities, Balance Sheet, Statement of Cash Flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements, or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

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LEAGUE FOOTBALL EDUCATION 30 June 2025 Trustees’ annual strategic report and financial statements

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of League Football Education (continued)

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees’ Annual Report and Strategic Report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the Trustees’ Responsibilities Statement set out on page 9, the trustees (who are also directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditors under the Companies Act 2006 and report in accordance with regulations made under that Act.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The specific procedures for this engagement and the extent to which these are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud are detailed below.

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LEAGUE FOOTBALL EDUCATION 30 June 2025 Trustees’ annual strategic report and financial statements

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of League Football Education (continued)

Identifying and assessing risks related to irregularities:

We assessed the susceptibility of the charitable company’s financial statements to material misstatement and how fraud might occur, including through discussions with the trustees, discussions within our audit team planning meeting, updating our record of internal controls and ensuring these controls operated as intended. We evaluated possible incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements. We identified laws and regulations that are of significance in the context of the charitable company by discussions with trustees and updating our understanding of the sector in which the charitable company operates.

Laws and regulations of direct significance in the context of the charitable company include The Companies Act 2006 and The Charities Act 2011 and guidance issued by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Further the charitable company is subject to other laws and regulations where the consequence of non-compliance could have a material effect on the amount or disclosures in the financial statements, through significant fine, litigation or restrictions on the charitable company’s operations. We identified the most significant laws and regulations to be funding rules and guidance issued by the Department for Education.

Audit response to risks identified:

We considered the extent of compliance with these laws and regulations as part of our audit procedures on the related financial statement items including a review of financial statement disclosures. We reviewed the charitable company’s records of breaches of laws and regulations, minutes of meetings and correspondence with relevant authorities, including the Department for Education, to identify potential material misstatements arising. We discussed the charitable company’s policies and procedures for compliance with laws and regulations with members of management responsible for compliance.

During the planning meeting with the audit team, the engagement partner drew attention to the key areas which might involve non-compliance with laws and regulations or fraud. We enquired of management whether they were aware of any instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations or knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud. We addressed the risk of fraud through management override of controls by testing the appropriateness of journal entries and identifying any significant transactions that were unusual or outside the normal course of business. We assessed whether judgements made in making accounting estimates gave rise to a possible indication of management bias. At the completion stage of the audit, the engagement partner’s review included ensuring that the team had approached their work with appropriate professional scepticism and thus the capacity to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations and fraud.

There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above and the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely we would become aware of it. Also, the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional misrepresentations, or through collusion.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

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LEAGUE FOOTBALL EDUCATION 30 June 2025 Trustees’ annual strategic report and financial statements

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of League Football Education (continued)

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Sally Appleton (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of Saffery LLP

Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditors 10 Wellington Place Leeds LS1 4AP

Date : 22 December 2025

Saffery LLP is eligible to act as an auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006

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LEAGUE FOOTBALL EDUCATION 30 June 2025 Trustees’ annual strategic report and financial statements

Statement of Financial Activities (incorporating Income & Expenditure Account)

For the year ended 30 June 2025

Note
Income from:
Charitable activities
2
Investments

Total income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
3

Total expenditure
Net income and net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Fund balances brought forward at 1 July
Fund balances carried forward at 30 June
13
Unrestricted
Funds
2025
£
12,389,575
200,785
12,590,360
(11,864,719)
(11,864,719)
725,641
2,999,074
3,724,715
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
2025
2025
£
£
86,005
12,475,580
-
200,785

86,005
12,676,365
(86,005)
(11,950,724)

(86,005)
(11,950,724)

-
725,641

-
2,999,074

-
3,724,715
Total
Funds
2024
£
11,637,446
239,728
11,877,174
(11,737,457)
(11,737,457)
139,717
2,859,357
2,999,074

The net income and resulting net movement in funds arise from continuing operations.

The charitable company has no recognised gains or losses other than the net movement in funds for the year.

The notes on pages 17 to 27 form an integral part of the financial statements. ‘A full comparative statement of financial activities is shown at note 17.

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LEAGUE FOOTBALL EDUCATION 30 June 2025 Trustees’ annual strategic report and financial statements

Balance Sheet As at 30 June 2025 A Company Limited by Guarantee

Note 2025 2024 2024
£ £ £ £
Fixed assets
Tangible assets 7 10,025 21,633
Current assets
Debtors 8 2,201,462 1,711,898
Cash at bank and in hand 12 4,549,896 4,166,412
6,751,358 5,878,310
Creditors:amounts falling due within
one year 9 (3,036,668) (2,900,869)
_ _
Net current assets 3,714,690
2,977,441
Total assets less current liabilities 3,724,715
2,999,074
The funds of the charity:
Unrestricted funds 3,724,715 2,999,074
Restricted funds -
-
Total charity funds 13 3,724,715 2,999,074

The charity has no debt and therefore there is no requirement to show the net debt analysis.

These financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and were signed on its behalf by:

/ M Molango Trustee

Date: 16/12/25

Company Number: 05143284

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LEAGUE FOOTBALL EDUCATION 30 June 2025 Trustees’ annual strategic report and financial statements

Statement of Cash Flows For the year ended 30 June 2025

Note
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used)/ provided by operating activities
11
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash interest from investments
Proceeds from the sale of equipment
Purchase of equipment
Net cash received in investing activities
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the
reporting period
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the
reporting period
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the
reporting period
12
£
200,785
54,500
-
2025
£
128,199
255,285

383,484
4,166,412

4,549,896
£
239,728
17,654
2024
£
(823,354)
257,382
(565,972)
4,732,384
4,166,412

16

LEAGUE FOOTBALL EDUCATION 30 June 2025

Trustees’ annual strategic report and financial statements

Notes to the financial statements (forming part of the financial statements)

1 Accounting policies

The following accounting policies have been applied consistently in dealing with items which are considered material in relation to the charitable company’s financial statements.

Company status

League Football Education is a charitable company limited by guarantee and does not have a share capital. The liability of the members is limited but is not to exceed £10 per member.

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the notes to the accounts and comply with the charity’s governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (effective 1[st] January 2019) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102).

The financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis and on a going concern basis. League Football Education meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £1.

Going Concern

League Football Education has prepared cash flow forecasts for a period of 18 months from the date of approval of these financial statements. After reviewing these forecasts LFE is of the opinion that there will still be sufficient funds to meet its liabilities as they fall due over the period of at least 12 months from the date of approval of the financial statements (the going concern assessment period). At the year end, LFE has reserves of £3.72m including £4.55m in cash and in addition to this LFE has no long-term debt.

The revenue generated by LFE is predominantly driven by the number of elite academy apprentices recruited by clubs within the EFL with 68 of the 72 professional clubs running academies and recruiting apprentices every year. Although some clubs may choose to recruit slightly fewer apprentices, the core provision of LFE is retained.

Consequently, LFE is confident that it has sufficient funds to continue to meet its liabilities as they fall due for at least 12 months from the date of approval of the financial statements and therefore have prepared the financial statements on a going concern basis.

Fixed assets and depreciation

Depreciation is provided to write off the cost or valuation of tangible fixed assets by equal instalments over their estimated useful economic lives as follows:

Asset capitalisation policy

Assets are capitalised when all of the following criteria are met:

Debtors

Debtors include amounts owed to the charity for the provision of goods and services or amounts paid in advance for the goods and services it will receive.

Debtors also include amounts receivable to which the charity is entitled.

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LEAGUE FOOTBALL EDUCATION 30 June 2025 Trustees’ annual strategic report and financial statements

Notes (continued)

Income from charitable activities

Income from funding providers, including government departments, is credited to the income and expenditure account to the extent that the charitable company has provided its services. Where such incoming resources are received in advance the income is deferred until the charitable company becomes entitled to the resources.

Investment income

Interest receivable on cash balances is credited to the income and expenditure account as it becomes due.

Resources expended

Expenses are accounted for on an accruals basis.

Charitable expenditure includes the direct costs of the activities. Support costs are also incurred to enable the charitable company to provide these activities.

Operating Lease costs

Charitable expenditure includes the cost of the lease for the rental of the head office premises. These costs are recognised as an expense of the charity on a straight line basis over the term of the lease.

Pension costs

The company pays contributions to personal money purchase pension schemes for eligible employees and accounts for the amount in the income and expenditure on an accruals basis.

Funds

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity. Restricted funds are funds received under a grant agreement and can only be used for a specific purpose.

Creditors and Provisions policy

A provision will be made within the accounting period when the following applies:

Financial Instruments

The charitable company only has financial assets and liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and are subsequently recognised at their settlement value.

Critical accounting estimates and judgements

In the application of the charity's accounting policies, the Trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors considered to be relevant.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised, if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods. On review, the Trustees do not believe there are any critical accounting estimates and judgements which could give rise to a material adjustment in the financial statements.

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LEAGUE FOOTBALL EDUCATION 30 June 2025 Trustees’ annual strategic report and financial statements

Notes (continued)

2 Income from charitable activities

Provision of
education &
training
2025
£
Unrestricted Funds
Department for Education
10,114,802
The Football League Limited
500,000
The Professional Footballers’ Association
1,642,000
Apprenticeship Employers Co-Investment
132,773
Turing Scheme
-

12,389,575

Income from charitable activities during
2023/24
Provision of
education &
training
£
Unrestricted Funds
Education and Skills Funding Agency
9,751,053
The Football League Limited
-
The Professional Footballers’ Association
1,642,000
Apprenticeship Employers Co-Investment
140,458
Turing Scheme
-

11,533,511
Turing
Scheme
2025
£
-
-
-
-
86,005
86,005
Turing
Scheme
£
-
-
-
-
103,935

103,935
Total
Funds
2025
£
10,114,802
500,000
1,642,000
132,773
86,005
12,475,580
Total
Funds
£
9,751,053
-
1,642,000
140,458
103,935

11,637,446

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LEAGUE FOOTBALL EDUCATION 30 June 2025 Trustees’ annual strategic report and financial statements

Notes (continued)

3 Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities

==> picture [460 x 195] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
||||| |---|---|---|---| |Direct|Support|Total| |Costs|Costs|Costs| |2025|2025|2025| |£|£|£| |Direct costs of the provision of education & training|8,171,019 3,693,700|11,864,719| |Turing Scheme|86,005|-|86,005| |8,257,024|3,693,700|11,950,724| |Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities in 2023/24| |£|£|£| |Direct costs of the provision of education & training|8,286,361|3,347,161|11,633,522| |Turing Scheme|103,935|-|103,935| |8,390,296|3,347,161|11,737,457| |___|

----- End of picture text -----

Expenditure on restricted funds comprised £86,005 on the Turing Scheme in the year (2024: £103,935). Support costs are further analysed in note 4.

==> picture [465 x 279] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
|||| |---|---|---| |Support|Support| |Costs|Costs| |2025|2024| |£|£| |Wages and salaries|2,871,038|2,623,137| |Motor vehicle expenses|128,141|134,220| |Travel and subsistence|100,046|82,930| |Rent and rates|115,251|116,391| |Insurance|9,358|8,977| |Telephone|51,814|48,396| |IT|94,208|92,653| |Repairs and renewals|38,049|3,329| |Printing, stationery and postage|9,832|10,796| |Publications|83,675|77,199| |Audit, assurance grant services|23,240|21,000| |Legal and professional fees|7,093|3,841| |General expenses|22,689|46,002| |Car leasing|127,523|66,358| |Bank charges|135|193| |Depreciation|11,608|11,739|

----- End of picture text -----

3,693,700 3,347,161

Net income for the year is stated after charging auditors remuneration for the audit of the statutory accounts totalling £15,900 (2024: £15,500), and remuneration for other services totalling £2,500 (2024: £2,625). Total governance costs for the year ended 30[th] June 2025 were £30,333 (2024: £24,841).

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LEAGUE FOOTBALL EDUCATION 30 June 2025 Trustees’ annual strategic report and financial statements

Notes (continued)

5 Staff numbers and costs

The Directors, who are also Trustees of the charitable company are not remunerated and as such are not regarded as employees. The average number of persons employed by the charitable company during the year, analysed by category, was as follows:

Regional and teaching staff
Administrative staff
Indirect staff
The aggregate payroll costs of these persons were as follows:
Wages and salaries

Social security costs
Other pension costs
2025
Number of
employees
75
12
6
93
2025
£
2,303,988
243,649
323,401

2,871,038
2024
Number of
employees
65
12
6
83
2024
£
2,092,620
228,931
301,586
2,623,137

The number of employees that receive total emoluments that exceed £60,000, including the value of all benefits received, including employers’ pension contributions and employers’ national insurance, are as follows:

2025 2024
Number of Number of
employees employees
£60,000 - £69,999 1 0
£70,000 - £79,999 1 0
£80,000 - £89,999 0 1
£90,000 - £99,999 1 1
£100,000 - £109,999 0 0
£110,000 - £119,999 0 0
£120,000 - £129,999 0 0
£130,000 - £139,999 1 1

The total remuneration paid includes the value of all benefits together with the employer’s national insurance contributions to the four key management personnel as detailed on page 4 the year totalling £375,690 compared to £367,321 during 2023/24. Total contributions of £60,285 were paid into their personal money purchase pension schemes, compared to £53,011 during 2023/24. Expenses in relation to Trustees attending meetings totalled £361.20 during the year ended 30[th] June 2025 (2024: £0).

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LEAGUE FOOTBALL EDUCATION 30 June 2025 Trustees’ annual strategic report and financial statements

6 Operating lease

LFE recognised an annual rental expense of £61,834 in the year in respect of the rental of the head office of the charity. The operating lease is due to expire on 28 November 2031.

The total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases
are as follows:
Due within 1 year
Due after 1 and within 5 years
Due after 5 years
Tangible fixed assets
Cost
At beginning of period
Additions
Disposals
At end of period
Depreciation
At beginning of period
Charge for period
Disposals
At end of period
Net book value
At 30 June 2025
At 30 June 2024
All fixed assets are held for charitable purposes.
Debtors
Trade debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
2025
£
51,528
206,112
21,470
Motor
vehicles
£
267,675
-
(206,000)
61,675
246,042
11,608
(206,000)
51,650
10,025
21,633
2025
£
1,060,431
1,141,031

2,201,462
2024
£
51,528
206,112
77,292
Total
£
267,675
-
(206,000)
61,675
246,042
11,608
(206,000)
51,650
10,025
21,633
2024
£
579,231
1,132,667
1,711,898

7

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LEAGUE FOOTBALL EDUCATION 30 June 2025 Trustees’ annual strategic report and financial statements

Notes (continued)

9 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Trade creditors
Taxation and social security
Accruals and deferred income


10
Movement of deferred income
Deferred income brought forward
Released during the year
Deferred in year
Deferred income carried forward
2025
£
382,487
68,562
2,585,619
3,036,668
2025
£
84,904
(27,750)
386,698
443,852
2024
£
360,692
57,682
2,482,495
2,900,869
2024
£
80,170
4,734
84,904

Deferred income carried forward includes £57,154 of funding from the DfE which relates to 2025/26 Also included is £386,698 relating to revenue received from the DfE which is in excess of the actual contract value and the revenue will be adjusted in the 2025/26 year.

11 Reconciliation of net income to net cash flow from operating activities

12

Net income for the reporting period (as per the
statement of financial activities)
Adjustments for:
Interest from investments
Depreciation charges
Profit on the sale of fixed assets
Decrease / (increase) in debtors
(Decrease) / increase in creditors
Net cash provided by operating activities
Analysis of Cash and Cash equivalents
Cash in hand
Total Cash and Cash equivalents
2025
£
725,641
(200,785)
11,608
(54,500)
(489,564)
135,799
128,199
2025
£
4,549,896
4,549,896
2024
£
139,717
(239,728)
11,739
(17,654)
(148,962)
(568,466)
(823,354)
2024
£
4,166,412
4,166,412

23

LEAGUE FOOTBALL EDUCATION 30 June 2025 Trustees’ annual strategic report and financial statements

Notes (continued)

13 Outline summary of fund movements

Unrestricted Funds
Restricted Funds
Funds
Balances
brought
forward
£
2,999,074
-

2,999,074
Income
£
12,590,360
86,005

12,676,365
Expenditure
£
(11,864,719)
(86,005)

(11,950,724)
Transfers
£
-
-

-
Gains and
losses
£
-
-

-
Fund
Balances
Carried
forward
£
3,724,715
-

3,724,715

Outline summary of fund movements in 2023/24

Unrestricted Funds
Restricted Funds
Funds
Balances
brought
forward
£
2,859,357
-

2,859,357
Income
£
11,773,239
103,935
11,877,174
Expenditure
£
(11,633,522)
(103,935)

(11,737,457)
Transfers
£
-
-

-
Gains and
losses
£
-
-

-
Fund
Balances
Carried
forward
£
2,999,074
-

2,999,074

The unrestricted funds relate to the government funding of the Apprenticeship and the Study Programmes together with the income from The Professional Footballers’ Association and The Football League Limited. The restricted funds are in respect of Grant funding for the Turing Scheme Programme. This relates to income and expenditure specifically for the purposes of worldwide placements for apprenticeship players at the end of their apprenticeship programme, to assist with their transition onto their next steps in life. This grant is applied for on an annual basis and expenditure under this grant is restricted to this programme.

24

LEAGUE FOOTBALL EDUCATION 30 June 2025 Trustees’ annual strategic report and financial statements

Notes (continued)

14 Analysis of net assets between funds

Tangible Fixed Assets
Current Assets
Current Liabilities
Analysis of net assets between funds in 2023/24
Tangible Fixed Assets
Current Assets
Current Liabilities
Unrestricted
Restricted
Funds
Funds
2025
2025
£
£
10,025
-
6,751,358
(3,036,668)


3,724,715
-


Unrestricted
Restricted
Funds
Funds
2024
2024
£
£
21,633
-
5,878,310
-
(2,900,869)
-


2,999,074
-

Total
Funds
2025
£
10,025
6,751,358
(3,036,668)

3,724,715

Total
Funds
2024
£
21,633
5,878,310
(2,900,869)

2,999,074

15 Pension scheme

The charitable company’s employees are members of different pension schemes. These include various Personal Money Purchase Pension Schemes and the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. All the personal pension schemes are defined contribution schemes, while the Teachers’ Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme. The Teachers’ Pension Scheme cannot separately identify the assets and liabilities attributable to individual members and only two employees of the charitable company are members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme therefore further disclosures have not been made. During the year ended 30 June 2025 total pension contributions were £323,401 compared to £301,586 during the year ended 30 June 2024.

25

LEAGUE FOOTBALL EDUCATION 30 June 2025 Trustees’ annual strategic report and financial statements

Notes (continued)

16 Related party transactions

During the year, the charitable company delivered the training and education of apprentice footballers on behalf of The Football League Limited and The Professional Footballers’ Association. The Football League Limited and The Professional Footballers’ Association are both members of The Charity. The expenditure during the year with The Football League Limited represents the rental of the LFE Head offices together with the associated office costs, also including postage and the cost of sponsoring the EFL annual Awards, in recognition of the Apprentice of the Season Awards, together with the shared cost of joint meetings.

Related party transactions during the year were as follows:

The Football League Limited
The Professional Footballers’ Association
Income
during
2025
£
500,000
1,642,000

2,142,000
Accrued
Income /
Debtor
2025
£
-
821,000

821,000
Expenditure
during
2025
£
211,848
1,125

212,973
Prepaid
30 June
2025
£
2,487
-

2,487

Related party transactions during the previous year were as follows:

The Football League Limited
The Professional Footballers’ Association
Income
during
2024
£
-
1,642,000

1,642,000
Accrued
Income /
Debtor
2024
£
-
-

-
Expenditure
during
2024
£
132,200
-

132,200
Creditor/
Accrual
30 June
2024
£
56,237
-
56,237

26

LEAGUE FOOTBALL EDUCATION 30 June 2025 Trustees’ annual strategic report and financial statements

Notes (continued)

17 Prior year Statement of Financial Activities (incorporating Income & Expenditure Account)

For the year ended 30 June 2024

Income from:
Charitable activities
Investments
Total income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities

Total expenditure

Net income / expenditure
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Fund balances brought forward at 1 July
Fund balances carried forward at 30 June
Unrestricted
Funds
2024
£
11,533,511
239,728

11,773,239
(11,633,522)

(11,633,522)

139,717

139,717
2,859,357

2,999,074
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
2024
2024
£
£
103,935
11,637,446
-
239,728
103,935
11,877,174
(103,935)
(11,737,457)
(103,935)
(11,737,457)
-
139,717
-
139,717
-
2,859,357
-
2,999,074

27