A Season of Football at JLC
A Season of Football at JLC
A Season of Football at John Leggott College
The final whistle may have blown on the 2025/26 competitive season, but the football at John Leggott College is very much still going. Our first team rounded off a memorable year with a series of friendly matches on our 3G pitch, including a great game against Lincoln City Sports College. Thank you to Lincoln City Sports College for making the trip and joining us for what was a fantastic afternoon of football.
These end-of-season friendlies are a reflection of everything that makes the JLC football programme special. The competitive season might be over, but the love of the game, the team spirit and the desire to keep improving never stops.
Looking Back on the 2025/26 Season
This has been a season to be proud of. The JLC team showed real quality, determination and character throughout the campaign, representing the college with distinction at every level of competition.
What has been consistent all year is the attitude of the squad. Week in, week out, this group of students has committed to training, supported each other on and off the pitch, and carried the JLC name with pride. That is something worth celebrating regardless of results.
Finishing Strong: The Friendly Season
Ending the year with friendly matches is a great way for the squad to stay sharp, enjoy the game and build connections with other colleges and clubs across the region. The game against Lincoln City Sports College on our 3G pitch was a brilliant example of that, a competitive, well-spirited match that showcased the quality JLC football has to offer.
Our 3G pitch continues to be a real asset for the college, providing a professional-standard surface for our students to train and play on throughout the year. It has also been used by Scunthorpe United for first team training sessions, which speaks to the quality of the facility and the strength of the relationship between the two organisations.
The Scunthorpe United Partnership: United in Partnership
One of the most significant developments in JLC football in recent years has been the launch of United in Partnership, a pioneering programme created by John Leggott College, Scunthorpe United Football Club and 780 Coaching.
The initiative was designed to bridge critical sporting and career opportunities for the young people of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire and beyond, creating a direct, elite football pathway for aspiring athletes and future professionals.
For students at JLC, this partnership opens doors that simply would not exist elsewhere. The pathway allows students to gain additional football training alongside their studies without impacting their academic programme, with successful applicants receiving additional coaching sessions and opportunities to train with the Scunthorpe United first team.
But United in Partnership is about far more than football training. Through John Leggott College's curriculum, participants can gain exposure to different roles within the club, from sports management to media, and from sports nutrition to physiotherapy, laying a solid foundation for a range of career opportunities in sport and beyond. This is what the programme calls a career dual passport: the ability to develop as a footballer and as a future professional at the same time.
As JLC Principal Leon Riley has said of the partnership, the aim is to nurture talent, empower ambition and future proof career options, while keeping that talent right here in Scunthorpe.
What Scunthorpe United Says About JLC
The partnership continues to go from strength to strength. Scunthorpe United have confirmed that the football programme is thriving at JLC, and that the club is proud to be working with the college to recognise and harness the best footballing talent across the region. JLC is currently ranked first regionally and third nationally for Sport in the country, with football at the heart of their offer.
Phill Dalowsky, Senior Leader at JLC and first team football coach, is the key link in the United in Partnership relationship, and Scunthorpe United have committed to taking a more hands-on approach going forward, providing updates on JLC's success stories on the pitch.
This is a partnership built on shared values: developing young people, investing in the local community and giving students in Scunthorpe and North Lincolnshire access to opportunities that set them apart.
What Football at JLC Can Offer You
If you are thinking about studying at sixth form and football is important to you, John Leggott College is one of the best places in the country to combine academic study with a serious commitment to the game.
Students at JLC benefit from a professional 3G training facility on campus, coaching from experienced staff, a competitive fixture programme and the unique opportunities that come with the United in Partnership programme. JLC is also a TASS-accredited provider, nationally recognised for supporting student athletes through the Dual Career Pathway.
Whether your ambition is to play football at the highest level you can reach, pursue a career in sport, or simply continue playing the game you love while working towards strong A Level results and qualifications, JLC has a pathway that works for you.
Thank You to Everyone Who Made This Season Possible
To every player who pulled on the JLC shirt during the 2025/26 season: thank you. To the coaches, staff and supporters who gave their time and energy throughout the year: thank you. And to Lincoln City Sports College for joining us for a brilliant end-of-season friendly on our 3G pitch: thank you.
The 2026/27 season will be here before we know it. We cannot wait.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the United in Partnership programme at John Leggott College?
United in Partnership is a programme created by John Leggott College, Scunthorpe United Football Club and 780 Coaching. It provides an elite football pathway for talented post-16 students, combining additional coaching sessions, opportunities to train with Scunthorpe United's first team, and career development across different roles within professional football, all alongside a full academic programme at JLC.
Is John Leggott College good for sport?
Yes. JLC is ranked first regionally and third nationally for Sport, and is a TASS-accredited provider recognised for supporting student athletes through the Dual Career Pathway. The college has a professional 3G pitch on campus and a thriving football programme with strong links to Scunthorpe United.
Can I play football and study A Levels at John Leggott College?
Absolutely. JLC is set up to support student athletes who want to pursue both. The United in Partnership programme is specifically designed to allow students to receive elite football training without it impacting their academic studies, giving them the best of both worlds.
What career opportunities does the Scunthorpe United partnership provide?
Through United in Partnership, students can gain experience across a wide range of roles within a professional football club, including sports management, media, hospitality, commercial, sports nutrition and physiotherapy. This gives students a broader career foundation alongside their football development.