| Academy football 18:12 - Aug 11 with 2513 views | FrimleyBlue |
Channel 4 at 9pm this evening is the start of a new series following football academies and how a group of youngsters get on within them. |  |
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| Academy football on 18:24 - Aug 11 with 2446 views | jasondozzell |
Thanks, Frimley! Will give it a watch |  | | |
| Would appreciate any feedback on the documentary - please direct message, thanks (n/t) on 20:23 - Aug 11 with 2242 views | unstableblue |
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| Academy football on 21:38 - Aug 11 with 2157 views | Strimmer |
Absolutely fascinating so far. These kids are so young! Obvious point to make but it really brings it home how young they are for this pressure |  |
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| Academy football on 21:50 - Aug 11 with 2135 views | MattinLondon |
| Academy football on 21:38 - Aug 11 by Strimmer |
Absolutely fascinating so far. These kids are so young! Obvious point to make but it really brings it home how young they are for this pressure |
Young kids made to act like grown men. Almost unbelievable pressure on their young shoulders - but this is Palace - Man U, Arsenal, Chelsea must be ten times more ruthless. |  | | |
| Academy football on 21:52 - Aug 11 with 2131 views | DinDjarin |
Unreal pressure on 11 yr old children.
I like the head coach who comes across well.
But it's a meat grinder and it will destroy some of these kids if they don't get retained and win a contract for next season. |  | | |
| Academy football on 22:05 - Aug 11 with 2096 views | Chrisd |
A great recommendation Frimmers, thanks for that.
Showed what a tough environment Academy football is and so pressurised. Found I was really rooting for Kayden, that lad seems like he’s got his head screwed on right and has a mature attitude for such a young age. He impressed me most. | |
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| Academy football on 22:13 - Aug 11 with 2077 views | ITFC_Forever |
The coach guy was excellent with the boys, a credit to Palace.
It was interesting to hear the boys talking, they weren’t talking about winning trophies but how much money they might earn. |  |
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| Academy football on 03:04 - Aug 12 with 1939 views | Ryorry |
| Academy football on 22:13 - Aug 11 by ITFC_Forever |
The coach guy was excellent with the boys, a credit to Palace.
It was interesting to hear the boys talking, they weren’t talking about winning trophies but how much money they might earn. |
He was brilliant, great communicator with the boys, what was his name? (subtitles overlaid the onscreen captions).
I ended up quite fearful for the boys if they get dropped from the academy or don't make it because of injury or whatever. One of them was already talking about buying his Mum a house with his first wage *when* he was signed by a Prem side, then a house for himself with his next wage or two ... |  |
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| Academy football on 07:36 - Aug 12 with 1833 views | ITFC_Forever |
| Academy football on 03:04 - Aug 12 by Ryorry |
He was brilliant, great communicator with the boys, what was his name? (subtitles overlaid the onscreen captions).
I ended up quite fearful for the boys if they get dropped from the academy or don't make it because of injury or whatever. One of them was already talking about buying his Mum a house with his first wage *when* he was signed by a Prem side, then a house for himself with his next wage or two ... |
Phil something, began with H I think. | |
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| Academy football on 08:44 - Aug 12 with 1775 views | BrentwoodBlagger2 |
It is a fact using FA figures that 1% of players at academy's will be offered a scholarship and of those numbers that make it at 16 - 18 level just 1% will be offered a professional contact by clubs. Of course of those 1%, not all will make it and most will not be at top level. Rather depressing as those kids commit their formative teenage years and so do most of their parents. Most academies build their academy teams around maybe 2 or 3 players and the others 'make up the numbers'. It is a disciplined experience for academy players, but heartbreak at the end for most. | | | |
| Academy football on 09:03 - Aug 12 with 1728 views | textbackup |
| Academy football on 08:44 - Aug 12 by BrentwoodBlagger2 |
It is a fact using FA figures that 1% of players at academy's will be offered a scholarship and of those numbers that make it at 16 - 18 level just 1% will be offered a professional contact by clubs. Of course of those 1%, not all will make it and most will not be at top level. Rather depressing as those kids commit their formative teenage years and so do most of their parents. Most academies build their academy teams around maybe 2 or 3 players and the others 'make up the numbers'. It is a disciplined experience for academy players, but heartbreak at the end for most. |
Many will still make a few quid from the game. Only need to see what stowmarket etc are paying players |  |
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| Academy football on 09:06 - Aug 12 with 1725 views | clive_baker |
| Academy football on 08:44 - Aug 12 by BrentwoodBlagger2 |
It is a fact using FA figures that 1% of players at academy's will be offered a scholarship and of those numbers that make it at 16 - 18 level just 1% will be offered a professional contact by clubs. Of course of those 1%, not all will make it and most will not be at top level. Rather depressing as those kids commit their formative teenage years and so do most of their parents. Most academies build their academy teams around maybe 2 or 3 players and the others 'make up the numbers'. It is a disciplined experience for academy players, but heartbreak at the end for most. |
I agree with that but what I would also add is that it's a great experience to be a part of, it's not just about the destination of being a pro footballer. Yes a small % make it, but many others benefit hugely from the education and there's good money in non league too. Many of course don't even make it at that level but I'm sure have largely fond memories of academy football. I don't really see it like the clubs owe these kids anything, it's mutually beneficial. Clubs are also good now at making sure kids focus on their education, not quite to the degree of the collegiate system in US sports, but its improving. That's also the role of parents of course, mine were always very big on making sure I was doing my best in school as well. Had I not been I wouldn't have been allowed to play football. For kids without that grounding it can be dangerous though, if their only option is to make it as a professional and then they're binned off it can be a very difficult thing to deal with psychologically. |  |
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| Academy football on 09:15 - Aug 12 with 1711 views | PrideOfTheEast |
| Academy football on 09:06 - Aug 12 by clive_baker |
I agree with that but what I would also add is that it's a great experience to be a part of, it's not just about the destination of being a pro footballer. Yes a small % make it, but many others benefit hugely from the education and there's good money in non league too. Many of course don't even make it at that level but I'm sure have largely fond memories of academy football. I don't really see it like the clubs owe these kids anything, it's mutually beneficial. Clubs are also good now at making sure kids focus on their education, not quite to the degree of the collegiate system in US sports, but its improving. That's also the role of parents of course, mine were always very big on making sure I was doing my best in school as well. Had I not been I wouldn't have been allowed to play football. For kids without that grounding it can be dangerous though, if their only option is to make it as a professional and then they're binned off it can be a very difficult thing to deal with psychologically. |
Exactly. I have to say I watch things like last night and find it tragic when a child is saying I don't know what I'll do if I don't make it as a professional footballer. I know clubs do a lot to support the 99% that don't make it but as a parent I felt very uncomfortable watching some of it. Thought the Palace coach featured most was excellent. | | | |
| Academy football on 09:15 - Aug 12 with 1711 views | strikalite |
| Academy football on 08:44 - Aug 12 by BrentwoodBlagger2 |
It is a fact using FA figures that 1% of players at academy's will be offered a scholarship and of those numbers that make it at 16 - 18 level just 1% will be offered a professional contact by clubs. Of course of those 1%, not all will make it and most will not be at top level. Rather depressing as those kids commit their formative teenage years and so do most of their parents. Most academies build their academy teams around maybe 2 or 3 players and the others 'make up the numbers'. It is a disciplined experience for academy players, but heartbreak at the end for most. |
Disgusting really, as soon as they pull on that Club shirt and tracksuit I can only imagine how close they feel to making it when the reality is like you say the odds are massively stacked against them..
They should be doing so many other things at this age, playing a number of different sports(which would actually help them I'm sure)and just doing what kids do, not focussed on being anything at all and just enjoying it with absolutely no pressure on themselves..
I've always said that Clubs shouldn't be able to work with these kids until they're at least 14, allow them to develop first, far easier to tell if a lad has what it takes at 14 than say 11....the odds are still stacked hugely against them, but at least they would have had a childhood, an undamaged one at that.. |  | | |
| Academy football on 10:50 - Aug 12 with 1598 views | ITFC_Forever |
| Academy football on 07:36 - Aug 12 by ITFC_Forever |
Phil something, began with H I think. |
Phil Hingston. | |
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| Academy football on 11:07 - Aug 12 with 1572 views | Ryorry |
| Academy football on 10:50 - Aug 12 by ITFC_Forever |
Phil Hingston. |
Cheers 👠| |
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| Academy football on 12:26 - Aug 12 with 1430 views | Chrisd |
| Academy football on 09:15 - Aug 12 by strikalite |
Disgusting really, as soon as they pull on that Club shirt and tracksuit I can only imagine how close they feel to making it when the reality is like you say the odds are massively stacked against them..
They should be doing so many other things at this age, playing a number of different sports(which would actually help them I'm sure)and just doing what kids do, not focussed on being anything at all and just enjoying it with absolutely no pressure on themselves..
I've always said that Clubs shouldn't be able to work with these kids until they're at least 14, allow them to develop first, far easier to tell if a lad has what it takes at 14 than say 11....the odds are still stacked hugely against them, but at least they would have had a childhood, an undamaged one at that.. |
I was watching a Shane Warne documentary recently and his focus when he was a young lad was playing Australian Rules Football, cricket hadn't even occurred to him. It was only when Warne was told he wasn't going to be good enough did he consider playing cricket and the rest is history. Having the opportunity to play various sports provides a range of different skill sets and experiences, but it seems a little restrictive just concentrating on one sport. Children might have a talent in another sporting area but won't know unless they are exposed to it. | |
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| Academy football on 13:36 - Aug 12 with 1330 views | strikalite |
| Academy football on 12:26 - Aug 12 by Chrisd |
I was watching a Shane Warne documentary recently and his focus when he was a young lad was playing Australian Rules Football, cricket hadn't even occurred to him. It was only when Warne was told he wasn't going to be good enough did he consider playing cricket and the rest is history. Having the opportunity to play various sports provides a range of different skill sets and experiences, but it seems a little restrictive just concentrating on one sport. Children might have a talent in another sporting area but won't know unless they are exposed to it. |
Do you know what, I was thinking about this earlier, wouldn't be good if the Clubs could somehow bring other sports coaches as part of their scholarship, with so many being released how do we know that some of them could have been gifted Cricketers or Tennis players? Ideally they should be playing a number of sports, but the truth is once these Clubs get hold of them their focus is one track...
Don't suppose it's in the Clubs interests, but part of me feels they should have a responsibility for the thousands that they know won't make it.. | | | |
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