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How do you get scouted/join a top football club's academy?

Reply 20

scotttb

15

Kevmeister

And you play for who? :indiff:

what makes you think he plays football

Reply 21

Kevmeister

9

scotttb

what makes you think he plays football

I thought it was prerequisite to enable one to post in the footie forum. Is that not the case?! :eek:

Reply 22

Beneb

10

Do keepie-ups outside their training centre?

Reply 23

Troubled_Student

12

silent

I don't know why people are saying 'summer schools' etc. Most kids get picked up from a very early age (~11-12) playing junior sunday league or for their school. An academy standard player will be miles better than anyone else on the pitch. Also, generally, if you're not picked up by the time you're 14/15 and you've been active in football you're probably not good enough.

This.
Very rarely does anyone get signed up over the age of about 13.

Reply 24

Antzlck

18

You just have to be really good, type of player who is playing at district level etc

Clubs do have their scouts out there watching sunday leauge football, so if you're good you will be spotted. My brothers were at Palace for most of their childhood... they never made it though. A scout watches games and approaches the manager who passes on the kids details, and then you get invite for trials.

Everone I've known who have been at clubs you just KNOW they are much better than everyone else and as people have said, if it's gonna happen you will get scouted from young. Becoming a footballer is hard though, plenty of very talented players out there who have not made it. The majority of talented players will not make it.

I think you can also apply for trials but don't nkow much about that ...

Reply 25

RyanShawcross

get yerself a skinhead lad and get yerself to a pub in Stoke

make sure you down as many pints as you can
we at the Brit are alwaiz lookin for lads on a Lager diet :biggrin:

the team that drinks togetha wins togetha aha :biggrin:

Reply 26

Kevin J

15

Footballcv.com

Reply 27

Kevin J

15

Troubled_Student

This.
Very rarely does anyone get signed up over the age of about 13.

LOL.

Very rarely? A lot get picked up from 14/15/16, I speak from experience of myself and of friends.

Reply 28

talktofrank

13

Once you get to about 16 it's really difficult to get into the whole cycle - even most semi-pro clubs won't take a look at you unless you've played at a high level before.

You might be good enough, but if you don't have a proven record then it's very difficult to get trials.

Reply 29

ChristieNO7

2

Hey.. You can be whatever You want in life.. Go for it.. You can turn professional at the age of 19... 20... whatever!! :smile:

Change Your thoughts to change your life.. anything is possible.

Reply 30

Theflyingbarney

15

Mainly, you just want to be playing at the highest level you can manage while still playing regularly, as higher level = more scouts. As others have said though, it's very difficult to convince scouts once you get past the age of about 14-15. Summer schools are a bit of a long shot as the people running them are normally coaches rather than scouts, so their opinion holds less sway.

Generally though there's not very much that you can do to get spotted other than be good at football - if you're good enough people will start to notice and word will get around. But to stand any chance of making it into a senior side you have to be very, very good.

Reply 31

DaveSmith99

14

Local youth leagues. The team I played for as a kid got scouted by a lot of clubs in the NW.

Reply 32

LewBennett

My Mate plays for the Burnley academy and I watch him play. He is always determined to play well and win the match. He uses all his talent in each game and he has that bit of flair to him that makes him special. All you have to do is try your best!

Reply 33

jalal.malang

the is true

Reply 34

Mr_Vain

3

Not just about footballing ability. I played for Sunderland's academy until 15, at the time I did not have the physicality needed and I had lung problems too (which eventually required operations). So, that was my career there over before it started. I was away from my family a lot as my Dad was working in London, so, that really sucked. Then again, I don't think I would have made the first team anyway, just very difficult.

Reply 35

Biffy_Blues

Original post

by Mr_Vain

Not just about footballing ability. I played for Sunderland's academy until 15, at the time I did not have the physicality needed and I had lung problems too (which eventually required operations). So, that was my career there over before it started. I was away from my family a lot as my Dad was working in London, so, that really sucked. Then again, I don't think I would have made the first team anyway, just very difficult.

Reply 36

3razy

9

Join a Sunday league team, but I heard it takes 10,000 hours of football before you can make it

Reply 37

ptr jnr

Heyy Bro am a football player playin for a junior team am 21 now is there any advice for me in gettin into d big league I love football please

Reply 38

Champ scout

2

I'm a scout for a championship club. I cover U13's, U14's & U15's. I would disagree with what most have said in regards to age. I have found out that the majority of boys that get scouted at an early age (6-11) usually drop out of the system by the age of 12. Clubs have scouts looking at boys of all ages. You will find that players/boys develop at different ages and the best players at ages 9 & 10 are not necessary the best players at 14 & 15.
Best advice for being scouted is to firstly have a good first touch, followed by pace. A good attitude is also a requirement. Get yourself playing for a good local team and if you are good enough you will get spotted sooner or later.

Reply 39

Eduardo UK

2

There are today two football games in UK. The traditional British grass football which has been played in the last hundred years and the new European passing game. If you play British game and are as good as messi the best you could reach is conference one (division 5). This is not a joke but a reality !!
If you play not great but simply good first touch, passing /keeping the ball down and being able to have over 80% passing ratio then you play at least for league 2.

Be patient, wait till 19 to know if you want or not to become a pro. Do not accept any contract before and do not play 11 a side before 15. I would recommend small goals 3V3 or 4v4 is the best.

Good luck everybody. Being pro is difficult, small clubs pay badly so it is more important to first finish school.

I was pro and I am French living in UK. My boys were pretty mediocre till 15 but playing french way they got scooted at 19.

How do you get scouted/join a top football club's academy?

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