The Youth

[Dante Lavelli]

I know, I said it in the post above yours 

🤬

[algy]

Saracens pay for each of their youth players to do a degree.  Some sort of safety net should be provided by all clubs.

I’ve long thought that the club should partner with umpteen schools/academies across the midlands, hoovering up the best talent, whilst investing heavily in their education and brain washing them about the Villa brand.  I don’t work in education so I have no idea whether this would be viable/legal.

I worked at Villa as a kitchen porter for a bit before I went to uni. There was a lad there who had better a level results than me. He'd said he wanted to go to uni, but the financial reality of it was that his family needed the wage he was getting KP'ing too much.

I dunno, it just seems maybe if Villa are really going after making the most out of having an inner city academy, it'd be worth giving the lads (& girls) who were enrolled there a bit of a safety net like Dante's described.

[Paul.S]

Saracens pay for each of their youth players to do a degree.  Some sort of safety net should be provided by all clubs.

I’ve long thought that the club should partner with umpteen schools/academies across the midlands, hoovering up the best talent, whilst investing heavily in their education and brain washing them about the Villa brand.  I don’t work in education so I have no idea whether this would be viable/legal.

I worked at Villa as a kitchen porter for a bit before I went to uni. There was a lad there who had better a level results than me. He'd said he wanted to go to uni, but the financial reality of it was that his family needed the wage he was getting KP'ing too much.

I dunno, it just seems maybe if Villa are really going after making the most out of having an inner city academy, it'd be worth giving the lads (& girls) who were enrolled there a bit of a safety net like Dante's described.

I’m surprised there’s nothing regarding education in place already. I actually thought all academies provided something for the young players. If not then it would be a fantastic thing to do.

[Pat McMahon]

It’s a shit business.

Yup - I imagine having to release 18,19,20 year olds and shatter their dreams is just about the worst job in football. 

Some mates of mine played with a bloke about 25 years ago called Peter Curran. He was playing for a west London team called the Polytechnic whilst working down here but had come through the ranks at Aberdeen under Ferguson. Ferguson deLivered the news he was being released and he resented him thereafter.

I thought it was decent of Ferguson to take it on himself to deliver the news to those being released rather than leaving it to the academy staff.  He did at least have the pleasure of scoring a great goal from outside the box that was on a 100 best ever goals  video in the SPL though - more than most of us will ever achieve.

Polytechnic rings a bell. Are they based in Acton/Ealing?

In Chiswick, Paddy, not far from the train station. It was a good club with 9 teams plus veterans, as well as hockey and rugby teams. I played there for a couple of seasons when I wasn’t at Villa games.

I played against them many times Pat.

Which team did you play for - we may have crossed paths?

[curiousorange]

There are swathes of the country where scouts just don't bother to come. My colleagues, most of whom have lads who have played in various football levels, have said they've barely seen scouts at games in Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire. The place I work at, funnily enough, turned out Nathan Baker, but despite that (limited) success, only West Brom have been back to run some informal training sessions.

[Sexual Ealing]

It’s a shit business.

Yup - I imagine having to release 18,19,20 year olds and shatter their dreams is just about the worst job in football. 

Some mates of mine played with a bloke about 25 years ago called Peter Curran. He was playing for a west London team called the Polytechnic whilst working down here but had come through the ranks at Aberdeen under Ferguson. Ferguson deLivered the news he was being released and he resented him thereafter.

I thought it was decent of Ferguson to take it on himself to deliver the news to those being released rather than leaving it to the academy staff.  He did at least have the pleasure of scoring a great goal from outside the box that was on a 100 best ever goals  video in the SPL though - more than most of us will ever achieve.

Polytechnic rings a bell. Are they based in Acton/Ealing?

In Chiswick, Paddy, not far from the train station. It was a good club with 9 teams plus veterans, as well as hockey and rugby teams. I played there for a couple of seasons when I wasn’t at Villa games.

Ah, deepest, darkest Chiswick down by the train station. I once woke up in a house near there after a party, on being told I was in Chiswick, I thought 'great. I know Chiswick.' Turned out I only knew the High Road and Turnham Green. I walked across a lot of road bridges before I spotted an E3 bus!

[paul_e]

The problem with the idea of the clubs providing higher education like rugby and cricket clubs is that a huge amount of youngsters are dropped a lot earlier in football with major cut-offs at 15/16 and 18, because of how the academy system is setup.

I do think more needs to be done though. This is where the idea of academisation should be used, have the club setup with it's own 'school', preferably with links to local schools and businesses to give the kids a safety net.

In the 18+ part of the academy I'd then push the kids towards specific football related qualifications like physiotherapy, data analysis, coaching badges, etc. It keeps things football focused but opens options for kids that don't make the step up.

[pablo_picasso]

The brother of Chuckyourtoysoutofthepram I see is at Crawley Town who are 2nd from bottom in League Two and was subbed off at half time last weekend.  He'll be gone at the end of the season I reckon.

He's never really showed much, has he?

He's an arsehole who thinks he is above that level. His attitude was questioned at Livingston too... Didn't want to put the work in. The sooner we get rid of the Chuckwemeka entourage, the better. Should never have been brought into the club in the first place.

[pablo_picasso]

Understand #AVFC will not be renewing contracts for Brad Young, Arjan Raikhy, Hayden Lindley & Declan Frith. (Gregg Evans)

I'm surprised about Raikhy, I thought he'd have some sell on value at least.

I have never seen anything in him that suggests he was worth keeping. Young too. Nothing more than a straight line pace merchant...

He looked excellent in the FA Youth cup final, probably our best player but then i saw him at the start of this season against Albion in an U21 game (i think it was) and he looked like he'd gone a long way backwards. (Raikhy)

When I saw him on loan at Stockport I think it was in the National League, he looked completely lost. The FA Youth Cup Final was good from him, but youth football & mens football are worlds apart...

[sid1964]

I was talking to the guy who cuts my hair, he was on Villa's books as youth team player and he was telling me that the pressure on the young lads is immense

He said that at 7 years of age he was given a diet sheet from the club

He mentioned that a friend of his who is at Wolves (currently on loan to a Division 1 side) is on £12,500 per week lives in a £750k house and is only 21 (i don't think he has ever played in the Wolves 1st team) - total madness.

It must be tough for the young lads when you are told that you are no longer wanted

[Smithy]

It’s a shit business.

Yup - I imagine having to release 18,19,20 year olds and shatter their dreams is just about the worst job in football. 

Some mates of mine played with a bloke about 25 years ago called Peter Curran. He was playing for a west London team called the Polytechnic whilst working down here but had come through the ranks at Aberdeen under Ferguson. Ferguson deLivered the news he was being released and he resented him thereafter.

I thought it was decent of Ferguson to take it on himself to deliver the news to those being released rather than leaving it to the academy staff.  He did at least have the pleasure of scoring a great goal from outside the box that was on a 100 best ever goals  video in the SPL though - more than most of us will ever achieve.

Polytechnic rings a bell. Are they based in Acton/Ealing?

In Chiswick, Paddy, not far from the train station. It was a good club with 9 teams plus veterans, as well as hockey and rugby teams. I played there for a couple of seasons when I wasn’t at Villa games.

I played against them many times Pat.

Ha! Me too! I played for a team based at the Civil Service Sports ground just across the road for about five years (I think it's owned by a school now?)

[Risso]

Saracens pay for each of their youth players to do a degree.  Some sort of safety net should be provided by all clubs.

That's not exactly true, it does look like they take academy kids' welfare quite seriously though:

"All senior academy players are expected to undertake some form of career development alongside their rugby in order to best prepare them for the transition into a second career and life after rugby. This can be anything from an undergraduate degree, a trade course or a formal work placement."

I'd argue that it's more important to do so in rugby though, as there are far fewer clubs where lads can earn a living from the game, compared to football.

[Rotterdam]

The problem with the idea of the clubs providing higher education like rugby and cricket clubs is that a huge amount of youngsters are dropped a lot earlier in football with major cut-offs at 15/16 and 18, because of how the academy system is setup.

I do think more needs to be done though. This is where the idea of academisation should be used, have the club setup with it's own 'school', preferably with links to local schools and businesses to give the kids a safety net.

In the 18+ part of the academy I'd then push the kids towards specific football related qualifications like physiotherapy, data analysis, coaching badges, etc. It keeps things football focused but opens options for kids that don't make the step up.

Now this I can help with...
Education-wise, all schools with kids in the academy building u9-u16 will be contacted a minimum of twice a year (Prem League rule). Most clubs will touch base termly or every halfterm. Clubs record and track progress of the kids and offer support where they can; progress, attendance, behaviour etc. Most clubs offer school release (u12-u16) for a dayor half day a week; schools/parents agree to this and schoolboy progress is monitored. Comp Education sessions are obligatory during those days whereby clubs will pay for teachers to come in a support the indepedent learning. Clubs ask for reports and data to be shared with them.
At Year 10 and 11 (GCSEs) the Prem League track the schoolboys progress verse target grade. The Prem League operate under Ofsted so clubs under their education umbrella could be visited. Each club has a Education Support Manager (usually an ex-Headteacher) who monitors the data and meetings are held to discuss P8, traget grades, intervention etc for each u15/16. If a kid is in bother an offer of support or removing of school release may take place.
The u21 and first year pros are a funny bunch...they can access funding through PFA for certificated courses (up to 50% up to £7500 I think) but 99% choose not to pursue anything. Most think they've 'made it' and all say something like...'I just want to focus on my first year...see me next pre-season'. The Prem League are really pushing for clubs to offer a post-18 pathway.

On the point of the brutality of the system. All schoolboys and parents are made aware of the 0.5% chance or whatever it is chance of being a pro footballer after the age of 25. A number of parents act as if 13 year old Timmy is the next Harry Kane, I've heard comments like 'he's our golden ticket'...the lad is 14.
Another thing is the desperation. Released lads will go anywhere to trial and gain a contract...they are embarrassed at being released. They've spent two to ten years in a club tracksuit being lauded by all and suddenly they a re a civilian again. It gets worse the older they get.

[Rotterdam]

I should add that at u18 scholar level (VI Form), boys are offered BTECs and  A levels, dependant on academic prowess.

[nigel]

Understand #AVFC will not be renewing contracts for Brad Young, Arjan Raikhy, Hayden Lindley & Declan Frith. (Gregg Evans)

I'm surprised about Raikhy, I thought he'd have some sell on value at least.

I have never seen anything in him that suggests he was worth keeping. Young too. Nothing more than a straight line pace merchant...

They'll get contracts with lower level teams where they can try and live up to their potential on a smaller stage. If they were never going to have a chance of making it they'd have gone long before now. This way they can be snapped up for free.

Always thought Young and Raikhy looked pretty good, and should be picked up by a decent league one/two team.

You can usually tell when a youth player is going to make it.
I remember watching a few youth games involving Grealish and Gary Gardener, they were streets ahead of the rest.
We know about JG, but I think GG would have been brilliant had it not been for the two bad injuries
Rooney is another example, albeit not one of ours, you just knew he would go all the way.