Ben Casey in Watford FC's yellow and black kit, holding the ball at Vicarage Road

BenCasey

Former Watford FC Academy captain, UEFA C licensed coach and Football & Business Management undergraduate.

Profile

Seven seasons in Watford FC's Category 2 academy, the last as U18 captain, followed by the Premier League Futures Programme, a UEFA C coaching licence and a Football and Business Management degree now in progress.

That gives Ben first-hand understanding of the academy pathway, from signing through scholarship to release, and of what it asks of players and their families. He is used to elite performance standards and to holding other people to them.

He is looking for a commercial, representation or coaching role in football where that experience can contribute from the first day.

Based
Barnet, London
Academy
Watford FC, 2017 to 2024
Captain
Watford FC under-18s
Coaching
UEFA C licence; UEFA B in progress
Studying
BA (Hons) Football & Business Management, PFA Business School
Playing
Semi-professional football
Looking for
Commercial, representation or coaching roles

The pathway

  1. 2017Sept 2017 to June 2024

    Watford FC Academy

    Academy player, scholar and U18 captain

    Seven years in a Category 2 academy, combining full-time training and competition with education and, in the final years, coaching.

    • Captained the U18s: led team talks and tactical analysis, and set standards on and off the pitch.
    • Planned and delivered coaching sessions for the U9s while completing the UEFA C licence.
    • Sustained full academy days of training, analysis, coaching and study for seven years.
  2. 2024Aug 2024 to Aug 2025

    Premier League Futures Programme

    Participant

    Selected nationally for the Premier League's 12-month programme preparing current and former academy players for careers across the football industry.

    • Direct exposure to the commercial side of the game at Nike World Headquarters in Portland, EA SPORTS, Barclays, IMG Studios, Bauer Media and Kitman Labs.
    • Workshops and collaborative projects on leadership, career planning and the business of football, presented to senior industry figures.
    • A professional network across clubs, brands, media and sports technology companies.
  3. 2025Sept 2025 to present

    Carfrey Limited

    Surveying assistant, part-time

    Site surveying and pricing support on live construction projects valued between £10,000 and £50,000, alongside a full-time degree and semi-professional football.

    • Conducts independent site surveys and records the measurements on which project pricing is based.
    • Prepares scopes of work, photographic records and supplier quotations for issue to clients.
    • Reports directly to the business owners, with full accountability for accuracy and presentation.

Education

  • BA (Hons) Football & Business Management, in progressPFA Business School, University of Portsmouth, 2025 to 2028
  • BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma, D*D*D*Sporting Excellence & Performance
  • Nine GCSEsIncluding English, Mathematics and Science

Qualifications

  • UEFA C Coaching LicenceCompleted
  • UEFA B Coaching LicenceIn progress, 2026
  • FA National Talent Identification & ScoutingExpected 2027
  • Full UK driving licenceAutomatic