The Alextra Story
Former Arsenal player and England youth international, Alex Hennessy, has channeled her passion and expertise in football an academy majorly for girls. From starting football in a local boys team to becoming captain of her country at youth level and then making her WSL debut for Arsenal . Alex Hennessy aimed to create a programme that allowed the youth to enjoy and excel in their game regardless of ability , age and gender . Along with all Alex’s success she experienced various injuries and setbacks , during injury time Alex began to coach as a volunteer for various football clubs . After years of learning the ropes and playing at the highest level for her age , Alex founded Alextra Academy in October 2022 at just 17 . Shortly after , Alex held her first Alextra Academy camp which over 40 girls attended!
Alextra is a wholly unique entity. The Alextra ethos was formed after years of training in elite environments. My teaching methods are drawn from almost a decade of training from professionals and those working at an extremely high standard. I have played at championship, WSL and international level and have garnered a wealth of knowledge from these experiences.
I have not only been a coach, a footballer and a captain, but also a mentor, a student and a friend. My exposure to a wide variety of situations has helped in creating this unique service led by a unique character - me! What I have gained from my life, I can now transfer onto the Alextra community and generations to come. We have built something singular, which would not be possible without all of you - with your own goals, drive and personalities. In the New Year, I hope we can grow Alextra further together and make it stand out even more than it already does.
Being a founder means wearing many hats. I've enjoyed developing skills in marketing, community building, operations, and finance to ensure the continued success of Alextra . I also offer guidance / workshops for young girl’s on how to build their own initiative and create their own destiny in or out of football . Proving our philosophy we are dedicated to our player’s successes on and off the pitch .
My journey is not just about enhancing players' performance; it's about shaping mindsets and inspiring the next generation of female players to be extraordinary. I believe in the power of football to create positive change and am committed to contributing to the modern future of the sport.“
Alex demonstrated her commitment , drive and resilience juggling A levels, playing professional football and embarking on her coaching journey . Adapting and evolving is needed in the modern world and the modern game . Our path sometimes changes . In the summer of 2023 ( at just 18 ) , she opted to prioritise her initiative, Alextra, electing to step down a league in pursuit of dedicating more time to its expansion and vision . Since July 2023, Alex has committed herself to the objective of empowering young girls, aiming to instil in them a sense of self-belief, confidence, and the drive to pursue their aspirations however big.The Alextra philosophy has extra care built into it’s DNA, that is what makes us unique...
