| Another academy player speaking out 18:57 - Feb 25 with 10560 views | George03 |
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| Another academy player speaking out on 20:44 - Feb 25 with 2635 views | chrismakin |
A friend of mine is an academy coach, he does his best to limit the amount of contact with any of the under 18's other than on the pitch or in a group.
Even more so since the 'Chelsea' Coach abuse investigation, he doesn't want any risks in any players ever thinking he's anything but a coach on the pitch.
It's sad that he feels that way, but I do understand why he does. |  |
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| Another academy player speaking out on 20:49 - Feb 25 with 2622 views | fabian_illness |
I wrote a bit on the other thread but decided to delete before posting, didn’t want to sound horrible.
This doesn’t make for good reading, but as always, there are two sides to a story.
It’s easy for an individual to post negativity. It would be so hard for an organisation such as a football club to reply with reasons why that person didn’t make the grade.
With regard to support, there is plenty available, far more than there was years ago.
The problem being, when you have a support network in place, this will serve the needs of the majority, some won’t need it, but, some won’t find it enough and will still feel the need for more help.
From experience, I was a football failure 30 years ago, scouted in local youth football, invited to train at town, after a few months, sorry your not going to make it, not tall enough. From there, a weeks trial at a southern club, Not tall enough. I had 2 other opportunities at league clubs but for various reasons I didn’t. I think I knew it wouldn’t happen after that. Support??? Nothing. My mum might have made my favourite for dinner.
Now my eldest lad is involved at an academy, a semi pro side. What they do for those boys is incredible. During this lockdown when they can’t go in every day, they have team calls for lessons, they have access to staff by phone or email, fitness support. They have had a special guest via zoom once a week, it was Joey Barton last week and he must have been on there nearly 2 hours. A couple of weeks before it was Nick Pope. This week was a premier league physio.
Having seen what goes on at various clubs, I think parents bigging up their kids is a major issue. They tell anyone who will listen how special they are, they have the poor lads heads filled with nonsense. Before lockdown I overheard one mum telling another parent that they were going to enquire about an agent for their boy. He’s 16 and playing at a semi pro club in the U18’s. |  | | |
| Another academy player speaking out on 20:56 - Feb 25 with 2598 views | Marshalls_Mullet |
| Another academy player speaking out on 20:49 - Feb 25 by fabian_illness |
I wrote a bit on the other thread but decided to delete before posting, didn’t want to sound horrible.
This doesn’t make for good reading, but as always, there are two sides to a story.
It’s easy for an individual to post negativity. It would be so hard for an organisation such as a football club to reply with reasons why that person didn’t make the grade.
With regard to support, there is plenty available, far more than there was years ago.
The problem being, when you have a support network in place, this will serve the needs of the majority, some won’t need it, but, some won’t find it enough and will still feel the need for more help.
From experience, I was a football failure 30 years ago, scouted in local youth football, invited to train at town, after a few months, sorry your not going to make it, not tall enough. From there, a weeks trial at a southern club, Not tall enough. I had 2 other opportunities at league clubs but for various reasons I didn’t. I think I knew it wouldn’t happen after that. Support??? Nothing. My mum might have made my favourite for dinner.
Now my eldest lad is involved at an academy, a semi pro side. What they do for those boys is incredible. During this lockdown when they can’t go in every day, they have team calls for lessons, they have access to staff by phone or email, fitness support. They have had a special guest via zoom once a week, it was Joey Barton last week and he must have been on there nearly 2 hours. A couple of weeks before it was Nick Pope. This week was a premier league physio.
Having seen what goes on at various clubs, I think parents bigging up their kids is a major issue. They tell anyone who will listen how special they are, they have the poor lads heads filled with nonsense. Before lockdown I overheard one mum telling another parent that they were going to enquire about an agent for their boy. He’s 16 and playing at a semi pro club in the U18’s. |
Interesting read.
My lad is 7 and I see parents desperate to get their kids scouted, as opposed to letting them enjoy their football and see what comes along.
Also head a women in Tesco the other day talking to her lad who must've been about 8. She was telling the guy at the checkout about her lad being 'on the books' of a club, and then talking to the lad about having a Bentley when he's a pro.
For the record, most such parents say their kids are 'on the books' even though it's more likely a regional development squad.
It's sad to see the joy taken out of football so early on. |  |
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| Another academy player speaking out on 21:13 - Feb 25 with 2571 views | George03 |
| Another academy player speaking out on 20:56 - Feb 25 by Marshalls_Mullet |
Interesting read.
My lad is 7 and I see parents desperate to get their kids scouted, as opposed to letting them enjoy their football and see what comes along.
Also head a women in Tesco the other day talking to her lad who must've been about 8. She was telling the guy at the checkout about her lad being 'on the books' of a club, and then talking to the lad about having a Bentley when he's a pro.
For the record, most such parents say their kids are 'on the books' even though it's more likely a regional development squad.
It's sad to see the joy taken out of football so early on. |
I wonder on average how many of ‘those type of parents’ children make it.
Most of the youngster that have broken Through at Town seem to all have had a humbling back stories and been guided by their parents, rather than forced. [Post edited 25 Feb 2021 21:17]
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| Another academy player speaking out on 21:22 - Feb 25 with 2550 views | Plums |
| Another academy player speaking out on 19:46 - Feb 25 by Marshalls_Mullet |
And the so called 'development squads' that are used as a catch up to sweep the 'maybes' make matters worse.
I know Hull run such a system, and review the attendees every 6 weeks. Dumping 6 and 7 years olds by way of a letter. |
Most of them do this, leaving local clubs to pick up the pieces - if the kids want to keep playing football that is. A number of them don’t.
It’s like greyhound racing for humans - lots of collateral damage. |  |
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| Another academy player speaking out on 21:22 - Feb 25 with 2550 views | southnorfolkblue |
| Another academy player speaking out on 19:40 - Feb 25 by snudge27 |
Exactly this.
Nobody has forced these kids to go down this route. There is never an easy path to fame and fortune, and the risk is proportionate to the reward.
If you choose to chance your arm at becoming a professional footballer, you need to understand the miniscule chances of making it, and make sure you have a Plan B in place. |
Parents have a responsibility here...the problem is that some of them get as blinded by the promise of fame and fortune as their kids. |  |
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| Another academy player speaking out on 21:33 - Feb 25 with 2540 views | Plums |
| Another academy player speaking out on 21:22 - Feb 25 by southnorfolkblue |
Parents have a responsibility here...the problem is that some of them get as blinded by the promise of fame and fortune as their kids. |
These academies are quasi educational;l establishments supposedly preparing young people for a life as a professional. They should be subject to the same requirements and standards as a school or college. They are far from that.
I agree about the parents but some people simply aren’t as worldly wise, or rational as all the posters on here... | |
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| Another academy player speaking out on 21:38 - Feb 25 with 2540 views | shamboy |
The best Academies address this issue properly. Southampton for example, have their training and accommodation complex within the same campus at Marchwood. The players eat together and their welfare is paramount. Each player is allocated a mentor, who is with them throughout the Academy process and out the other end. Ex-players like Jason Dodd fill these roles. Contact is maintained often for many years.
It is contemptible that all clubs do not invest in this degree of care. There is no excuse for it. It is simply lazy, out-dated thinking. Don't get me started on the FA's and PFA's lack of oversight...more money than they know what to do with and yet this can happen.
As for the impact of these two sad stories, the clubs which scout this area, including smaller clubs like Orient and Gillingham, will keep these accounts. They will be like gold-dust when they are in competition with Ipswich for players.
When Lambert said that the club is shot to bits, who is to say that he was not aware of these failings. | | | |
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| Another academy player speaking out on 22:24 - Feb 25 with 2484 views | Garv |
His experience doesn't sound like a nice one but is it really reasonable or realistic for the PFA or the club itself to offer 1-2 years of support and counselling for every player that gets released for the purpose of them getting a headstart in the real world? Who else gets that privilege? |  |
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| Another academy player speaking out on 22:51 - Feb 25 with 2459 views | BryanPlug |
| Another academy player speaking out on 22:24 - Feb 25 by Garv |
His experience doesn't sound like a nice one but is it really reasonable or realistic for the PFA or the club itself to offer 1-2 years of support and counselling for every player that gets released for the purpose of them getting a headstart in the real world? Who else gets that privilege? |
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| Another academy player speaking out on 23:12 - Feb 25 with 2433 views | Ryorry |
| Another academy player speaking out on 22:51 - Feb 25 by BryanPlug |
[content removed at owner's request] |
Sorry, but you do sound a bit desperate to make excuses. Of course it's sensible to consider that there are two sides to every story, but
1) This story is about the club's duty of care to youngsters whiilst still in the Academy, as much as it is about their release; and
2) Even if some individuals aren't adversely affected by bullying or lack of care during their Academy years, that doesn't mean that all aren't.
It really does all need investigating - including the allegation of poor meals. I wonder if that's all part of our poor attitude towards the sports science side of things, which may mean that we're fundamentally handicapping ourselves before any match even kicks off (albeit the U23s have of course been hugely successful). [Post edited 25 Feb 2021 23:13]
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| Another academy player speaking out on 23:27 - Feb 25 with 2428 views | monytowbray |
| Another academy player speaking out on 23:12 - Feb 25 by Ryorry |
Sorry, but you do sound a bit desperate to make excuses. Of course it's sensible to consider that there are two sides to every story, but
1) This story is about the club's duty of care to youngsters whiilst still in the Academy, as much as it is about their release; and
2) Even if some individuals aren't adversely affected by bullying or lack of care during their Academy years, that doesn't mean that all aren't.
It really does all need investigating - including the allegation of poor meals. I wonder if that's all part of our poor attitude towards the sports science side of things, which may mean that we're fundamentally handicapping ourselves before any match even kicks off (albeit the U23s have of course been hugely successful). [Post edited 25 Feb 2021 23:13]
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It 100% needs investigating, and we shouldn’t be taking that story as MAYBE HE ATE BEANS AND LETTUCE FOR THE BANTER because, as mentioned, this is the exact toxic logic that hushes those who experienced it and lets those responsible carry on doing it to others. |  |
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| 50 years ago... on 23:41 - Feb 25 with 2427 views | ScottCandage |
a parent in a similar situation would show up at Playford Road and say, "Someone is getting their a$$ kicked today. I'll give you two minutes to choose which a$$, and if you don't I'll choose randomly." |  | | |
| Another academy player speaking out on 23:57 - Feb 25 with 2396 views | RedX |
| Another academy player speaking out on 21:38 - Feb 25 by shamboy |
The best Academies address this issue properly. Southampton for example, have their training and accommodation complex within the same campus at Marchwood. The players eat together and their welfare is paramount. Each player is allocated a mentor, who is with them throughout the Academy process and out the other end. Ex-players like Jason Dodd fill these roles. Contact is maintained often for many years.
It is contemptible that all clubs do not invest in this degree of care. There is no excuse for it. It is simply lazy, out-dated thinking. Don't get me started on the FA's and PFA's lack of oversight...more money than they know what to do with and yet this can happen.
As for the impact of these two sad stories, the clubs which scout this area, including smaller clubs like Orient and Gillingham, will keep these accounts. They will be like gold-dust when they are in competition with Ipswich for players.
When Lambert said that the club is shot to bits, who is to say that he was not aware of these failings. |
Excellent post and very good point about Lambert. |  | | |
| Another academy player speaking out on 00:00 - Feb 26 with 2395 views | No_Moore_Kieffer |
Speaking as someone that works in football and works alongside a coach that has both played and coached at academy level, the issue is that these players are sold a dream, "We want you to play in our academy", but are never educated on the reality being that they've still only got a 1% chance at best of making it into the pro game.
There needs to be a change the focuses on the mental side of the game, e.g. resilience and dealing with setbacks, but also about what happens if you do get released.
Unfortunately football is a business, the most ruthless business you can ever be involved in at any level, and players are seen as products. If they're not deemed useful, they're discarded much like if a machine broke down at a construction company, or a computer becomes outdated in an office job.
Players get into academies and as far as they're concerned, they're on the path to becoming professional players. That's not the case. They're being pushed along a conveyor belt until they become injured, there's no room in the budget or squad for them, or, for the lucky ones, they're given a go at U23 or first team level. |  | | |
| Another academy player speaking out on 00:17 - Feb 26 with 2382 views | TieDyedIn95 |
| Another academy player speaking out on 19:07 - Feb 25 by Marshalls_Mullet |
Would be interesting to hear the club's account of these claims.
Must be v difficult being released though.
Maybe there should be more emphasis on education alongside the feint hope of becoming a pro footballer. |
If we really stuck our young goalkeepers in front of YouTube for training everyone involved with the system should be sacked. That might seem extreme but if true that absolutely pathetic. Sure, nothing wrong with them going home and watching some tips but that's not what they should be on our books for.
I think a lot more may come out on this. |  |
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| Another academy player speaking out on 06:06 - Feb 26 with 2344 views | Hipsterectomy |
I'm being ignorant here, but these stories say we've been recruiting youngsters from Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France etc...I though our academy rating meant that we could only sign those relatively local like Suffolk/Essex way |  |
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| Another academy player speaking out on 08:05 - Feb 26 with 2316 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
| Another academy player speaking out on 22:24 - Feb 25 by Garv |
His experience doesn't sound like a nice one but is it really reasonable or realistic for the PFA or the club itself to offer 1-2 years of support and counselling for every player that gets released for the purpose of them getting a headstart in the real world? Who else gets that privilege? |
Why are people focussing on the 'being let go' bit? Because it's the easiest to challenge? I'd agree there's only so much care you can give after someone's left an organisation.
I'm more concerned about the bullying, poor meals and watching youtube clips instead of being properly coached by a human. These are the real issues that sound amateurish at best and negligent at worst, and need investigating. |  |
| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
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| Another academy player speaking out on 08:46 - Feb 26 with 2293 views | BryanPlug |
| Another academy player speaking out on 08:05 - Feb 26 by The_Flashing_Smile |
Why are people focussing on the 'being let go' bit? Because it's the easiest to challenge? I'd agree there's only so much care you can give after someone's left an organisation.
I'm more concerned about the bullying, poor meals and watching youtube clips instead of being properly coached by a human. These are the real issues that sound amateurish at best and negligent at worst, and need investigating. |
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| Another academy player speaking out on 08:48 - Feb 26 with 2281 views | PhilTWTD |
| Another academy player speaking out on 06:06 - Feb 26 by Hipsterectomy |
I'm being ignorant here, but these stories say we've been recruiting youngsters from Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France etc...I though our academy rating meant that we could only sign those relatively local like Suffolk/Essex way |
Can recruit from other national associations at 16. Limited to an hour and a half locally. |  | | |
| Another academy player speaking out on 08:51 - Feb 26 with 2255 views | itfcjoe |
| Another academy player speaking out on 00:00 - Feb 26 by No_Moore_Kieffer |
Speaking as someone that works in football and works alongside a coach that has both played and coached at academy level, the issue is that these players are sold a dream, "We want you to play in our academy", but are never educated on the reality being that they've still only got a 1% chance at best of making it into the pro game.
There needs to be a change the focuses on the mental side of the game, e.g. resilience and dealing with setbacks, but also about what happens if you do get released.
Unfortunately football is a business, the most ruthless business you can ever be involved in at any level, and players are seen as products. If they're not deemed useful, they're discarded much like if a machine broke down at a construction company, or a computer becomes outdated in an office job.
Players get into academies and as far as they're concerned, they're on the path to becoming professional players. That's not the case. They're being pushed along a conveyor belt until they become injured, there's no room in the budget or squad for them, or, for the lucky ones, they're given a go at U23 or first team level. |
The problem is, without trying to sound too blunt, that whilst this message is given over and over, only those who are bright/savvy enough will truly understand it, and make back up plans.....and realistically those boys will be fine whatever happens because they are jst those sort of people
Look at Chris Smith previously who is now at university, Alex Henderson who was offered a deal but went to the States, and 4 of this years U18s have offers from universities even though at least a couple of them will definitely get offered deals.
As with anything in life, some people are able to get on whatever happens and others aren't - but that makes the fall out of football so tough for them. They weren't expecting (even though they should have been) and they can't cope.
I think it's especially bad for those who left last year as covid shut so many doors for them which has made it impossible to either move on, or spend months on end sitting there with no real support stewing on it and must lead to some form of depression, especially if they've made mistakes along the way which everyone does.
I wish both the boys the best, truly the worst time to 'fail' in the current world we are in when all opportunities are disappearing |  |
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| Another academy player speaking out on 08:51 - Feb 26 with 2253 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
| Another academy player speaking out on 08:46 - Feb 26 by BryanPlug |
[content removed at owner's request] |
How's your work for the Samaritans going? | |
| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
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| Another academy player speaking out on 08:56 - Feb 26 with 2229 views | BryanPlug |
| Another academy player speaking out on 08:51 - Feb 26 by The_Flashing_Smile |
How's your work for the Samaritans going? |
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| Another academy player speaking out on 08:59 - Feb 26 with 2222 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
| Another academy player speaking out on 08:56 - Feb 26 by BryanPlug |
[content removed at owner's request] |
So you think bullying, poor nutrition and lack of coaching are the kid's fault? | |
| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
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| Another academy player speaking out on 09:11 - Feb 26 with 2217 views | BryanPlug |
| Another academy player speaking out on 08:59 - Feb 26 by The_Flashing_Smile |
So you think bullying, poor nutrition and lack of coaching are the kid's fault? |
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