22 Aug 2016 20:25:11
So this is a bit off from whatever has been discussed on this website.
I thought it would be a great idea to know from all the readers and the writers and of course Eds, about their involvement in football. Like, how many out of you have had the opportunity to play professionally for a club (doesn't matter what level) .
From what I incur, a whole lot of you are from the UK, so did you guys ever want to be professionals and play for a club in the EPL? If yes, then what was it like? Did you ever go for trials or something?
And if you haven't played, then is there any way through which you have been involved in the sport? Whether you are coach or have your academy?
Thanks.
22 Aug 2016 21:11:36
I played youth football at a very high level in the UK and Europe during the 90's.
For those interested (I don't want to go into too much detail) :
The professionalism and quality of training in Europe was light years ahead of the UK at the time. In fact the way the game in the UK was played was barbaric in comparison, (long ball, all about speed/ strength, clueless coaches), training at the Premier League club I was at was comparable to my PE lessons at school. In Europe you were taught about nutrition, trained on different surfaces, trained several times a week even as a youngster, were moved up age groups if you excelled, (didn't happen in the UK, you were held back) . In Europe you would play several times a year on the main ground before the first team played to build up understanding of how to deal with pressure, 2nd half the ground was normally buzzing with 40,000+ people in it, this happened from 10 years of age up until 15/ 16. You would mingle with the first team even as a kid on those occasions. Never happened in the UK.
Picked up a bad injury which ruled me out for almost a year, but was never quite the same after that and never fit. I had to find work as I had left home to move in with girlfriend and just gave up on making it pro. I just watch on the TV now, no coaching etc, maybe I'll do something in a few years, but I don't like the way the game is going so don't want to dedicate myself to something if I don't believe in it fully. We'll see, but I'm sure I'd make a good manager if I wanted to head down that route, (just take a lot of time, luck and connections and at the minute I can't be bothered to start from scratch) .
22 Aug 2016 21:19:33
I had trials for cork hurling team in the 80s. and they wouldn't take me cause i woukdnt give up playing for my local soccer club.
I now manage an under 18 side here.
Very hard age to manage between trying to keep them away from drink and girls.
Ive seen a few young lads who had trials for clubs in england. i knew a boy who would have been as good if not better than roy keane but the lad couldn't stay away from drink and drugs.
After matches here they take the young lads to the pub for soup and sandwiches.
Ive been trying to keep them away from the pub. but the pubs give sponsorship to the club.
Its a bad tradition here.
22 Aug 2016 21:24:44
I got spotted by scouts when I was 14 and went for trials at Walsall, the manager then was Paul Taylor who apparently gave Steve Bruce his debut when he was manager at Gillingham, I passed the 4 week trial and went on to play 2 seasons there, the only player I played against who I know made it as a pro was Jermaine pennant who was playing for notts county at the time, he stood out above everyone! it was a great experience, a few ex pros used to watch our games, Nigel spink, Neil cox and the 1 I remember most was Cyril Regis, mainly due to the size of him! as with loads of kids at the age I was I was let go the season I was due to progress to the next level (YTS I think it was called) and I was offered to Worcester city where I went for a trial but by then I just wanted to go back to playing with my mates in the Sunday leagues, didn't regret it, looking back now being a pro wouldn't of suited what I wanted, great experience though!
22 Aug 2016 21:38:48
I think the thing to remember that with youth team football is often that in a squad of 15, 12 or 13 of those are there just to make up the numbers who those 2 or 3 the coaches think have a genuine chance of making it at that level/ club and into their 1st team. this is perpetuated whereby premier league academy 'drop outs' then replace the younger players in lower league teams academies.
As said above, if you aren't head and shoulders above everyone at youth team you're probably one of the unlucky ones there just to put together a side to showcase the talent. Of course there are exceptions to these rules and sometimes those that the club don't think will make it go on to have great careers.
22 Aug 2016 21:49:06
Dabbled with trials at Bury and Bolton in the 90s. In truth, I was a decent midfield player but not mentally as strong as the few guys who made it who didn't care who we played, who was watching them, and always had that unwavering self belief and avoid temptations etc. That's how you make it to pro.
22 Aug 2016 21:49:18
I play FIFA since the 90´s. does it count?
22 Aug 2016 21:56:12
I had trials at Sheffield Utd and Barnsley in the summer of 1986 age 18 after a connection from my Sunday league team. Nothing came from them but Sheffield Utd did ask me to go back 9 months later- never did and carried on playing Sat and Sun league football for another 14 years. I am now a Coach for an under 14 youth team and loving every minute of it - EAT SLEEP FOOTBALL REPEAT 😆😆.
22 Aug 2016 22:01:37
Played at county level up until 18 and also represented southwest schools. Was in the reserves of a conference team (weymouth) at 17 and possible first team call up. Had rarely any injuries then got a shoulder barge against Cardiff u18? Fell awkwardly and dislocated my shoulder. Then a further 4 dislocations across the next 18 months resulting in an operation and not hardly playing for that period and then going out and partying ended any hopes of a career. I went on to become a bit of a pubs league legend though.
22 Aug 2016 22:51:52
I had trials at both Bristol City and Bristol Rovers at 14. Turned offers from both down as they wanted to spend more time bulking me up than training with a ball. The mentality was about can we take a talented lad and make him into a hulking man able to cope with the physical side of the game, rather than can we hone his talent while he grows into his body. I stayed with my local team who had a coach who was very forward thinking at the time, it was all ball work and understanding of the game. I was progressing very well as a full back/ holding midfielder until my foot got stuck as I turned and someone attempted a tackle at that moment which opened up my knee and tore everything to pieces. My knee cap was hanging on by a tread. Either way two operations later and 18 months of physio and my knee was usable but that was too much time out at a key time, and in reality my knee has never been right since so any kind of football career wouldn't have realy been possible. So I totally walked away from the game for a while. Would still follow United with a passion but had no further interest as I couldn't compete myself.
Then recently I found out my old coach had passed away, and it got me thinking about the things he taught me. I don't agree with the way thing are run in this country, but whinging won't change a damn thing. So I started coaching, I intend to work my way up, hopefully coach in a few different countries as well. If I can help a few lads make good careers for themselves then maybe my injury wasn't for nothing.
{Ed007's Note - Good luck mate.}
22 Aug 2016 23:21:02
I played for the swindon school boys in junior school and had trials for swindons school of excellence at age of 9 they didn't pick me and I gave up for a couple of years disheartened. I then got back into a team at 11 and had trials for Villa, Southampton, forest and reading choosing Southampton. I was there for 2 years before being let go I then left football again and have been playing Sunday league but very inconsistently I went about four years without playing at all before starting to play again.
23 Aug 2016 01:02:55
We were a rugby school so only played football in the spring term. I played in goal and carried on playing in that position for the law faculty at Manchester University. It wasn't very serious. I'd have to throw my cigarette down when an attack came along. We got hammered by Engineering so badly one weekend I went through a whole pack in an hour and half.
{Ed007's Note - I once got sent off by a ref showing me a Monopoly card.}
23 Aug 2016 01:52:31
Was a talented right back in my youth but only got as far as the national league north. Laziness and a desire to see friends took away from that and couldn't be bothered going to a trial which spelled the end.
I got lucky and managed to be a professional coach for a good few years. Worked under Gary Megson, Dave Jones and our own Mike Phelan among others. Back injury resulting in close to paralysis ended that career, fine to walk and jog etc but out of the game. May look to finish my badges down the line but family and money means that takes a back seat for a while longer.
23 Aug 2016 06:11:38
There's potentially an entire football eleven on this page. 😑.
23 Aug 2016 08:25:16
I played youth football for Dundee Utd, Motherwell and Celtic up until 2009 but was let go because of my size. I am 179cm so by no means small but it seemed the coaches I had growing up put a huge emphasis on the need for bigger stronger players. I could have kept at it, dropped down a division to play full time but at that stage I was already looking to the future and other opportunities hence why I am now in the field that I am in.
My one word of advice to young players aspiring to make it professionally is don’t put all your eggs in the one basket and make sure you have something to fall back on. Life changes in a blink of an eye and you have to ready for whatever it throws at you.
23 Aug 2016 09:22:36
Why are you in a field Maze? Are you a farmer? Is it a nice field?
23 Aug 2016 09:38:08
I did not but I saw close up the realities of it all as a close family member signed for Leeds Utd as youth team player and had 3 years there with Oleary, Ferdinand, Alan smith, etc etc - captained his country but couldn't get a sniff at Leeds once they started cut backs and lumping under 16s,17,s and 18s together -40 man squad . crazy . he got so depressed - went to Coventry under Strachan, then to Oldham and Bury . then out the game very depressed and disillusioned with the politics of it all and some wrong decisons (eg Blackburn and Wolves came in for him but he rejected both ) In truth not good enough but luck plays a part.
Still in good contact with James Milner as they came up together - very cut throat business but maybe if your good enough the road is easier I don't know.
23 Aug 2016 10:10:33
MulamNO if only you knew how valuable a simple farmers job is in the world you may be less inclined to mock them.
23 Aug 2016 10:19:59
Maze is that cow in someone elses field that looks like a better cow than the one in your field. Lol.
23 Aug 2016 10:43:09
Lollll Shappy you made me creasee. But respect to all of you that have ren involved in football.
I wasnt reall good at football but i still enjoyed playing.
I was more of a cricket man and had i joined a club in my teen years i reckon i wouldve made it to the national team.
23 Aug 2016 10:59:52
Shappy I honestly have no idea what you are talking about. I am assuming your trying to be witty but you are just talking waffles in my opinion.
23 Aug 2016 11:15:09
No level of football other than recreational and no level of coaching other than recreational as well. But if my TV could talk; boy o boy! :)
23 Aug 2016 11:57:00
Who mocked farmers? Some people struggle to read or comprehend English on this site, haha
Interesting thread mind
My personal experience was that many kids thought they had a far better chance of making it than they ever did - this often came down to parents filling their heads with rubbish and not enough reality. You knew who these kids were, usually the ones with fancy coloured boots who wrote off to clubs telling them how many goals they scored at junior level and asking if they can get a trial 😃. Football is a cut throat industry where mentality is as important as skill. Much luck is required along the way too
I played to a decent youth level and had a couple opportunities at semi pro but knew I didn't have the skills or application to get to the top. So never really chased it. I enjoyed amateur footy instead and the pints at the pub afterwards!
23 Aug 2016 13:43:27
Maze if you don't get that I'm not explaining it. But it seems all the other United fans got it.
23 Aug 2016 14:31:36
Don't feel the need to explain it Shappy. We are obviously worlds apart in terms of intelligence.
23 Aug 2016 15:17:34
It would seem so Maze. Lol.
23 Aug 2016 16:48:20
Played in nets for my uni team. We used to train down close to where the Aberdeen boys would train. Got spotted, and played a few trials for the reserves against Dundee and Dunfermline.
Played ok as I recall - it was nearly 25 years ago. Coaches said I was a very agile shot stopper (which I was), but my height was going to prevent me from making it - I'm 5ft 10.
I was upset for a bit, but then I discovered women and booze, so the pain didn't last long.
23 Aug 2016 16:53:17
And if any of the lads on here live in the Oldham area, my cousin just got the manager's job there. Mention my name, and he'll probably cry, though. I used to coach a junior side, and I subbed him after missing a sitter, causing him to burst into tears. He went on to get signed by Spurs, before having a decent career at Luton and Bournemouth, before getting the assistant job with Northern Ireland.
Shows what I know.
{Ed041's Note - last time I mentioned your name I wound up in a police cell.
23 Aug 2016 20:33:49
Live in Chadderton now Noucamp, tell your cousin I know a few good curry houses if he's at a loose end sometime. I'll give him a few tips :-)
24 Aug 2016 00:01:51
Brendan, he only had 6 players on the books when he arrived, so if you bring your boots :)
24 Aug 2016 07:47:20
Everyones past involvement in the game is very interesting. But there seems to be one reoccurring theme that i believe is true for our country as is our game we love too and that is a lack of self belief. I mean no disrespect to anyone but am highlighting a general outlook most in this once proud nation has.
If you look at USA they are big on dream big and believe sort of cliches, even their president's slogan was 'yes we can'. Over in what was Great Britain we seem to have lost our belief in our own abilities it seems, this is even evident with our political stance.
Ronaldo is the best because of a few factors, he believes in himself, is the first one in and last one out of training and yes he did have talent but so did Anderson but did not work as hard, thus failed. My view is we are a small island whom once ruled the world, if we believe our British players are more than able to dominate or to produce messi or ronaldo like players, all they need is blond self belief, a little talent to start with and lots of hard work!
24 Aug 2016 12:20:46
I'll get myself down tonight, pretty much the same age as Zlatan so should be ok :-)
23 Aug 2016 18:43:34
Yeah, Ed041. That can happen.