Former Manchester United and France great Patrice Evra has launched a new app aimed at connecting soccer players to help further the careers of those missed by academies.

Evra has joined forces with football-tech entrepreneur Tommy Fish to co-found PLAYER, an app currently accessed on an invite-only basis before opening the platform to the public in the new year. It is initially launching in England with rapid overseas expansion on the horizon. Having recently closed a pre-seed round, raising almost $1.2 million at a $6.7 million valuation, the focus is currently on their Beta testing community.

"We have some of the top 1% of young players in England on PLAYER and it's about to explode," claims Evra. "When I was at Man United I would have loved a platform for my football profile to share my memories and achievements with my community. As for my own footballing profile - it's spread across lots of random different channels. Now players can make every match count in one place."

The app is used as a digital footballing CV, with which aspiring players can network with coaches, scouts and agents, rather like a "LinkedIn for Footballers". On it they create a profile with their own club history, stats and video content.

PLAYER has leveraged Evra's book of contacts, established over years at the pinnacle of the sport, to stage showcase matches with professional clubs such as West Ham United, where these hopeful professionals can play in front of Women's Super League, Championship and National League scouts.

Following one of the showcase matches in the summer at West Ham's academy one of the players on the platform, Muna Eze, was signed by National League side, Lewes FC Women. The forward is currently part of their first-team squad.

Goalkeeper Nyla Peterkin is another who has earned a playing contract on the back of the new app. She told me "PLAYER helped me connect with the right people as someone trying to break into women's football in England having previously played abroad."

"I onboarded with PLAYER and had the opportunity to join their high-profile showcases, which kept me sharp and boosted my visibility. I've since gone from the position of being a potential third-choice keeper to signing for Rugby Borough in the National League, already an making impact and being a part of a really competitive squad."

The PLAYER app seeks to fill gaps in the talent pathway that are still prevalent in the women's game especially within ethnic minorities where representation is yet to mirror the diversity of the men's game. Last week, the English Football Association (FA) released the final update from their 'Inspiring Positive Change' strategy aimed at making soccer more accessible to women and girls throughout the country.

Although there were many achievements to come out of the four-year program, The FA fell considerably short of its targets in offering equal access to football for girls within PE lessons at secondary schools. Despite the creation of 73 Emerging Talent Centers (ETCs) to offer localised, high-quality training environments, The FA also fell just short of its stated aim in ensuring 95% of female players being able to access an ETC within one hour of where they live.

Evra who would become a French legend at left back, representing them in five major international tournaments, was himself rejected by a variety of clubs in his own country as a kid, mainly due to his small stature. It took a recommendation from a friend to play in a five-a-side tournament that led to him being spotted by an Italian scout kick-starting an unlikely circuitous route to stardom via the lower leagues of Italy and France.

"I did not come through an academy, " says Evra. "I fought my way from the third division in Italy. I know many players that could have made it but did not. So we will shine a light on everyone from the top academy ballers to the grassroots legends."

Off the pitch, PLAYER operates a pro bono arm, helping academy players simultaneously build their off-pitch career interests. The company also helps with the after-care of released academy players by securing trials at other clubs, hosting showcases in front of scouts, and off-pitch career mentorship.

Evra added "my mission is to fight for young people and create opportunities for them to live a better life. So we are already working with several top Premier League clubs to help their players find their feet both on and off the pitch."

CEO and co-founder Tommy Fish said "we're unleashing the world's biggest and best football community and platform. Footballers need visibility to succeed. Clubs and agents need to find top talent before their rivals. We want to be a force for good in football and help players maximise their potential and the joy of playing football."