ABOUT US
Founded by Professional Footballer Luke Ayling in 2025, LA Football Academy is an all—inclusive football academy based in North Yorkshire with a commitment to excellence.
The Academy is dedicated to nurturing young talent, paving the pathway for aspiring young footballers to reach their full potential on and off the pitch.
Meet the FOUNDER
Luke joined Arsenal’s Academy as an aspiring young footballer at the age of 8. He went on to sign his first professional contract in 2009. Luke then joined Yeovil Town where he played over 160 games before joining Bristol City in 2014. In 2016 he joined Leeds United where he played over 250 games and was part of the Championship winning team under Marcelo Bielsa that saw Leeds get promoted into the Premier League in 2020. Luke currently plays at Championship Club Middlesbrough.
Having played over 550 professional games Luke is eager to share his huge wealth of footballing knowledge and experience with the next generation of aspiring young footballers.
“I’m incredibly grateful to be in a position where I can open my own Football Academy to share my passion for the game and create opportunities for children and young people to access top quality coaching on their doorstep.
Having spent a large part of my playing career in Yorkshire, this is where I now call home. It’s only fitting that I start my Academy in a place that has given me so much support and many good times during my career.
My motivation is to use football to engage and inspire young footballers of all abilities in my local community.
My ambition is that LA Academy becomes a real hub for talent, providing a creative, nurturing and positive environment that enables players to maximise their potential on and off the pitch.”