Football trials
Most Saturday non-league and Sunday league clubs in England will give a new player a trial: usually a training session or two, or a pre-season game. You don't need an agent or an invitation. You need to find clubs at the right level near you and get in touch.
Below: clubs on BallFindr holding trials now, trials pages for every county, and how trials work. For players aged 16 and over.
Clubs holding trials now
Ringley wood fc
All Positions Wanted
Hillingdon United FC
GK Wanted
Italia Estero Football Club
All Positions Wanted
East London Ballers
All Positions Wanted
Wandsworth Borough FC
All Positions Wanted
Chingford Harriers FC
GK, ST Wanted
Absolute FC
ST Wanted
Absolute FC
CB Wanted
Crondall fc
All Positions Wanted
Hub Church FC
RB, ST Wanted
Football trials by county
- Trials in Bedfordshire226 teams
- Trials in Berkshire278 teams
- Trials in Bristol203 teams
- Trials in Buckinghamshire211 teams
- Trials in Cambridgeshire299 teams
- Trials in Cheshire283 teams
- Trials in Cornwall220 teams
- Trials in County Durham235 teams
- Trials in Cumbria180 teams
- Trials in Derbyshire424 teams
- Trials in Devon394 teams
- Trials in Dorset198 teams
- Trials in East Riding of Yorkshire152 teams
- Trials in East Sussex177 teams
- Trials in Essex764 teams
- Trials in Gloucestershire375 teams
- Trials in Greater London965 teams
- Trials in Greater Manchester548 teams
- Trials in Hampshire429 teams
- Trials in Herefordshire62 teams
- Trials in Hertfordshire291 teams
- Trials in Isle of Wight40 teams
- Trials in Kent351 teams
- Trials in Lancashire305 teams
- Trials in Leicestershire396 teams
- Trials in Lincolnshire287 teams
- Trials in Merseyside302 teams
- Trials in Norfolk463 teams
- Trials in North Yorkshire344 teams
- Trials in Northamptonshire231 teams
- Trials in Northumberland144 teams
- Trials in Nottinghamshire312 teams
- Trials in Oxfordshire232 teams
- Trials in Shropshire93 teams
- Trials in Somerset387 teams
- Trials in South Yorkshire370 teams
- Trials in Staffordshire405 teams
- Trials in Suffolk310 teams
- Trials in Surrey332 teams
- Trials in Tyne and Wear212 teams
- Trials in Warwickshire176 teams
- Trials in West Midlands576 teams
- Trials in West Sussex334 teams
- Trials in West Yorkshire688 teams
- Trials in Wiltshire203 teams
- Trials in Worcestershire187 teams
How to get a football trial
- Pick your level. Be honest about where you've played. Saturday non-league runs in steps, from Step 1 (National League) down to Step 7 and local leagues below it. Sunday league is amateur football with its own divisions. Our Sunday vs Saturday guide explains the difference.
- Find clubs near you. Your county's trials page lists its leagues by level, and the club lists show every team in each league with a link to its website.
- Get in touch. Message the club (most list a contact on their website or social media) with your name, age, position, where you've played, where you live and when you're free. Short and specific gets replies.
- Or let clubs come to you. Make a free BallFindr player profile, set your positions and availability, and mark yourself open to trials. Clubs looking for your position can see you and invite you to trial.
When clubs hold trials
Saturday non-league: mostly pre-season, from late June through July, before the season starts in August. Many clubs advertise open training nights or pre-season friendlies where new players can come along.
Sunday league: mostly July and August, before the season starts in September. Sunday teams often have fewer players to choose from, so a keen, reliable player is welcome at almost any point.
During the season: clubs lose players to injury, work and moving away, so vacancies come up all year. League registration deadlines usually fall late in the season, so most moves happen in summer or the first half of the season.
What to bring, and what managers look for
- Boots for the surface: studs or moulds for grass, astro trainers for 3G or artificial pitches.
- Shin pads (you can't play a match without them), training kit, a drink and a warm top.
- Arrive early, introduce yourself, and tell the coach which positions you play.
- Managers at grassroots and non-league level look for attitude, fitness, communication and reliability as much as ability. Turning up every week matters.
Questions people ask
How do I find football trials near me?
Pick your county on this page to see the clubs and leagues near you and any clubs on BallFindr holding trials now. Then contact clubs at your level directly, or make a free BallFindr player profile, mark yourself open to trials, and clubs looking for your position can invite you.
Do I have to pay for a football trial?
Trials at Saturday non-league and Sunday league clubs are normally free: you turn up to training or a pre-season game. Some private companies run paid trial days or showcase events. Check who is running one, and what you get for the money, before you pay.
When do non-league clubs hold trials?
Most Saturday non-league clubs look at new players in pre-season, from late June through July, before the season starts in August. Sunday league clubs mostly recruit in July and August, before their season starts in September. Clubs also take players during the season when they lose players to injury, work or moving away.
How long is a football trial?
Usually one to three training sessions, or a pre-season friendly. At lower levels a manager may decide after one session; higher up the non-league pyramid a trial can run over a few weeks of pre-season.
What should I bring to a football trial?
Boots for the surface (studs or moulds for grass, astro trainers for 3G or artificial pitches), shin pads, training kit, a drink and a warm top. Arrive early, introduce yourself to the manager or coach, and tell them which positions you play.
Are there women's football trials?
Yes. Women's clubs recruit in the same way, mostly in pre-season. Our county pages list women's teams alongside Saturday and Sunday clubs, and women's clubs on BallFindr can post vacancies and invite players to trial.
What age do you have to be for adult football trials?
Most adult leagues accept players from 16, sometimes with extra rules for under-18s. BallFindr is for players aged 16 and over. For youth or academy trials, contact the club directly or your county FA.