Two former football players have been jailed alongside four other men for a scheme that sought over £5 million in government funding for bogus football coaching apprenticeships for young people. Paul Sugrue and Mark Aizlewood were sentenced to a total of 25 years and five months’ imprisonment at Southwark Crown Court on 26 February for their part in setting up Luis Michael Training Ltd., which targeted colleges, charities, football clubs and sports associations. Jack Harper, Christopher Martin, Keith Williams, and Steven Gooding were also sentenced.

From 2009, the company created bogus apprenticeships, receiving public funds intended by the Education and Skills Funding Agency to be used for the training of young people. However, most of the young people involved in the scheme never received their qualification or the training promised, which involved a salary for which the company would claim money back from the government.

In some cases, ‘ghost learners’ were created through the stealing of identities so that the company could claim funding for the placement of apprentices that never existed in the first place. Sixth formers on work experience were recruited to fill out assessment tests in the names of ‘ghost’ apprentices so that Luis Michael Training could show that their students were meeting the requirements of the scheme.

The company sought endorsements from former footballers such as Ian Rush in order to appear legitimate. Colleges lost over £3.5 million to the fraud and over 150 football clubs, sport associations, and charities were tricked into providing services to the company whilst never receiving payment.

Following his involvement with Luis Michael Training, Harper, trading as Football Qualifications.com started his own fraudulent scheme and attempted to partner with Liverpool Community College to provide apprenticeship training. Audit checks carried out by the college revealed that the initial cohort of learners was ineligible for apprenticeship funding, with false documents provided to the college to convince them that the learners were in employment.

• Mark Aizlewood was sentenced to six years.
• Christopher Martin was sentenced to two years and three months and five years and three months’ imprisonment to be served concurrently.
• Keith Williams was sentenced to three and four years’ imprisonment, to be served concurrently.
• Paul Sugrue was sentenced to three and seven years’ imprisonment, to be served concurrently.
• Steven Gooding received a 20 month prison sentence.
• Jack Harper received two 18 month sentences, to be served concurrently.