90 DAY FITNESS TRANSFORMATION CHALLENGE FOR PRO ACADEMY PLAYERS AGED 12 TO 21
Here's how it works:
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The programme is fully online and easy to follow from home.
This 90 day challenge is exclusively for pro academy level youth footballers.
The process begins by giving you a clear picture of exactly where your son or daughter currently stands in terms of their football athleticism.
We'll highlight the specific strengths and weaknesses that are influencing their performance level right now, and provide a fully bespoke strength and conditioning plan for them to follow from home 3 x per week, which will maximise their specific footballing talents and potential.
STEP 1: Detailed Football Athleticism Assessment
First we'll gather all of the information we need about your child's current playing situation and training history.
We'll then guide you through our most advanced football athleticism assessment. We do all of the analysis, you simply perform the exercises we set out and then send us the videos.
This includes an analysis of movement quality, imbalances, posture, speed, stamina, strength, balance, flexibility, mobility, power and sprint mechanics.
From there we'll create a detailed report outlining exactly what we've found, highlighting your childs current strength and weaknesses and how they compare to the average of other players in the same age group.
The next step is creating their tailored strength and conditioning training plan, which will be customised to what was found in the initial assessment.
Then we'll jump on a call to go through the report and findings with you, and explain the training we've outlined for your child.
STEP 2: Start Training
Once the initial assessment is complete, it's time to get stuck into following the training plan.
Everything will be designed to be followed from home with bodyweight and a basic range of equipment. You can see a list of equipment in the FAQ section further down the page.
You can message us any time within the app, and send us videos for feedback on form and technique. We'll also make updates to the plan week to week as required.
STEP 3: Custom Nutrition Plan
Our football nutritionist will create a bespoke meal plan for your child to follow.
This will be designed around their specific eating preferences, and be focused around maximising football performance, recovery and general health.
We'll include options for pre-match, post-match, non-training days, training days, tailoring everything to your child's specific schedule and your normal weekly food shop.
This way they know exactly what to eat, when to eat it, and you can implement it seamlessly.
The nutrition side is key, it will maximise your child's adaptations from the S&C workouts and transform their energy on the pitch.
STEP 4: Calls and Community
Every month we'll have a 1-1 check-in call with you to ensure we're always driving towards our goals, plus we'll add you into the player community on the app so you can see and share progress with others on the same journey.
In addition to that, each month you can attend a group call with James and all other players, where you'll receive mental performance coaching to ensure your child is both physically and mentally excelling on and off the pitch.
You can watch all replays of these mental performance sessions on the app too.
STEP 5: Retesting
After 90 days, you will repeat the fitness assessment and we'll update your report so that we all have factual data about how far your child has progressed.
This not only ensures that you know that the process is working, but is incredibly motivating for players too.
At that point you can decide if you'd like to continue the process.
So that's 1-1 bespoke strength and conditioning, nutrition and mental performance coaching all in one place, all specific to football, and all followed from home.
Providing you with a system that has a proven track record of helping talented youth footballers make phenomal progress with their strength, speed and stamina within just a 90 days.
Technical ability gets you noticed at first, but when you're at a level where every player is technically good, it's physicality which enables you to become the stand out performer.
If even one of these areas is being overlooked, your child is missing out on a huge amount of potential progress.
If you're child is ready to start their 90 day Matchfit transformation:
→ First, check out the player/parent feedback below, and then reply to my email for more info on claiming one of the places.
MEET YOUR COACHES
James Donnelly
Programme Director & Football S&C Specialist Coach
James will guide your child step by step through every exercise, making sure they use the right technique and train at the right level for their age and stage of development.
Every movement is demonstrated clearly on video so they always know exactly what to do and how to do it safely.
For close to 20 years, James has lived and breathed sports science and football specific strength and conditioning.
He holds a Masters in Football Strength and Conditioning, a BSc Degree in Sports Science, and has now guided over 50,000 footballers worldwide.
As part of his studies, he was mentored by some of the world's leading sports scientists who work with clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, and PSG.
Before becoming an S&C coach, James spent 9 years as a youth player at Wycombe Wanderers FC and represented England Schoolboys U18s.
At 19 he suffered a serious injury and was told he would never play again. Refusing to accept that fate, he entered the world of strength and conditioning in a quest to rebuild himself, and eventually returned to semi professional football 4 years later against all the odds.
Since launching Matchfit Football in 2016, James has built a very clear track record of helping thousands of youth footballers overcome the exact issues your child is likely facing right now.
Many of them have gone on to earn places at professional academies and even reach international level.
Your child will be learning from someone who has lived it, understands the journey, and knows exactly how to develop youth footballers into players who are physically ready for elite level football.
Yianni Kyriacou
Player Mentor & S&C Coach
Yianni holds a Masters in Strength and Conditioning and is both a UKSCA Strength and Conditioning Coach and an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He has provided conditioning support in professional football at Leyton Orient FC and within the academy system at QPR.
Over the past six years he has coached thousands of footballers online through Matchfit Football, personally guiding and mentoring them to maximise their training and fulfil their athletic potential.
Anze Pockaj
Football Nutrition Coach
Anže is a former professional goalkeeper whose career was cut short by injury at the age of 22.
Following this, he dedicated himself to studying sports nutrition and later specialised in football specific nutrition. He now works with both professional and non professional players, helping them reduce body fat, build muscle, increase energy levels and implement eating strategies that enhance training and match performance while supporting overall health.
COACHING CALL PREVIEWS
PLAYER/PARENT FEEDBACK
Young player of the month, two months running...
Selected for U15 international training camp...
Selected for international camp to play against England and Sweden...
Selected for the highest team in the region...
He's standing out in matches because of his speed, fitness and strength...
Now able to compete with bigger players...
VISIBLE physical and mental improvements in just 8 weeks...
Already seeing a difference 1 month in, he never misses a session...
Faster, more confident and much, much happier in just 6 weeks...
Son is now ready to challenge for the available academy spots...
Brilliant support and already seeing a difference in performance...
CAMERON'S 90 DAY PROGRESS:
When Cameron joined, he was technically strong and a natural leader on the pitch…
But there was one thing holding him back: his physicality.
He was struggling with speed and strength — which made it harder to compete, no matter how good his decision-making or touch was.
And it had been affecting his game for over a year.
He was playing at an amateur level, had never done strength training before, and needed a way to build the physical foundation to match his football brain.
What happened next?
In just a few months, his results were insane:
🔥 Max press-ups: +100%
🔥 Plank time: +140%
🔥 Wall sit: +28.33%
🔥 10m sprint speed: +30.67%
🔥 Agility (T-Test): +35.25%
🔥 505 agility: up to +15.09%
🔥 30m flying sprint: +18.91%
🔥 Broad jump: +21.67%
🔥 Stamina: +66.67%
More importantly — he started winning challenges, becoming first to the ball, and dominating key moments in matches.
His physicality improved.
His confidence exploded.
This is what happens when the right structure is in place.
When training is built specifically for football.
When players finally have a plan that works.
If you know your child can do more on the pitch but is being held back physically — this is your chance to change that.
MAX'S 90 DAY PROGRESS:
Max had always been a player with huge ambition.
He had solid technical ability.
His passing and dribbling stood out.
But something was missing.
Despite training hard on his own, he struggled when it came to matches.
Under pressure, his performance dropped.
He couldn’t seem to carry his individual quality into real-game moments.
And after a couple of heel and hip injuries, his confidence and consistency took a hit.
Max joined to change that.
He wanted to become a better all-round player — more powerful, more conditioned, and more capable of backing up his talent with real performance.
Here’s what happened in just 90 days:
🔥 Max press-ups: +59.09%
🔥 Wall sit: +97.67%
🔥 Plank time: +45.45%
🔥 505 agility: +12.41% (L), +6.2% (R)
🔥 30m flying sprint: +5.78%
🔥 Broad jump: +15.26%
🔥 Stamina: +50%
And with that physical foundation improving, so did everything else.
Max was able to stay focused and sharp longer in matches.
His 1v1 duels became more dominant.
He could change direction faster, explode into space quicker, and recover between efforts more effectively.
For the first time in a long time, he felt like the player he knew he could be.
His words?
“Seeing those retesting numbers lit a fire in me. I could finally see that the work I was putting in was paying off — and it made me want to train even harder.”
That motivation, consistency, and structure gave him the momentum he’d been missing — and now he’s building a level of performance that matches his goals.
If your child has talent but struggles to turn it into consistent match-day performance — Max’s story is proof that it’s not just about technical ability.
It’s about confidence, structure, and a physical foundation they can rely on when it counts.
JUDE'S 90 DAY PROGRESS:
At just 11 years old, Jude was already a talented young player with big dreams.
...But he was struggling with a few things that were quietly holding him back.
He wasn’t confident in games.
He lacked the speed and agility to keep up with top players.
He’d never done any strength training before — and it showed.
Even though he was already playing in the top division for his age group, Jude felt like something was missing.
Here’s the improvements he achieved within just the first 90 days:
🔥 Press-ups: +600%
🔥 Wall sit: +12.5%
🔥 10m sprint: +28.28%
🔥 T-Test agility: +14.55%
🔥 30m flying sprint: +15.22%
🔥 Broad jump: +9.56%
🔥 505 agility: +7.87% (L), +12.46% (R)
Those numbers are impressive — but the real difference was what happened to Jude’s confidence.
Suddenly, he wasn’t just keeping up.
He was getting stuck into challenges.
Covering more ground.
Competing harder.
And believing in himself again.
His coaches noticed. His teammates noticed. Most importantly — he noticed.
He started enjoying matches more. Letting go of fear.
And focusing on the game instead of second-guessing himself.
Now imagine if he hadn’t started.
What would his progress have looked like without this kind of support?
Slower development.
Still lacking confidence.
Another season of feeling behind…
Instead, he’s built the foundation to take his game to the next level.
This is the kind of progress that’s possible inside just a few months with the right structure and support.
For beginners, the performance gains waiting to be unlocked are often even greater.
IT WORKED FOR ALL OF THESE PLAYERS - AND IT CAN WORK FOR YOUR CHILD TOO
Best performance of the season in his first match since joining...
Definite improvements in strength and fitness in matches...
Remarkable changes and increased motivation since enrolling...
"INSANE" changes in strength and speed since enrolling...
100% stronger on the ball when being tackled and getting to the ball first
Increased sprint speed and able to cover more distance in matches...
THEY LEVELLED UP.
YOUR CHILD'S NEXT.
The fittest he's ever felt in training and matches...
Holding off bigger players and not being pushed off the ball...
More energy, feeling stronger and raring to go!
Selected for an academy which is attached to a top Belgian club...
Big improvements seen across the season and excited for pre-season...
"Ridiculous" improvements in balance and his movement after just 1 week...
Reply to my email for more info on claiming a place for your child and starting their 90 day Matchfit transformation.
*Strictly for pro academy level players aged 12 to 21 only*
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