Football team, first-class, learns afresh (7)
I believe the answer is:
arsenal
'football team' is the definition.
(Arsenal football club)
'first-class learns afresh' is the wordplay.
'first class' becomes 'A' (as in A-list, A-team etc).
'afresh' is an anagram indicator.
'learns' with letters rearranged gives 'rsenal'.
'a'+'rsenal'='ARSENAL'
(Other definitions for arsenal that I've seen before include "Premier League side founded by munitions workers in 1886" , "Eleven" , "weapons are kept here" , "First FA Cup winners" , "English football club and military depot" .)