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Joining a football Team

I'm 17, and in London. I'm looking to join a semi-pro team (if deemed good enough through trials) etc. I play upfront, but I haven't played football in ageeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees. Don't get me wrong I absolutely love my football, but life and different environments meant I haven't played football in ageeeeeeeeeeees. I think I have had 1 game of football in about 8 months! So I can hardly remember what it feels like to kick a ball. Anyways I really want to just ring up the club now, or to be precise the youth team managers etc. but I feel scared by rising to the challenge. I am a good player :smile:

however many people say it, I can play football, it's just that I haven't played in so long and I don't feel confident. I'm a striker by the way, I'm fairly smallish, but I feel this pressure that unless I score goals etc I'm going to be barracked by the team etc. I don't want to go for another position, at the same time the striker has the biggest burden on his shoulders IMHO. I'm feeling scared by the thought of it, and sometimes I do get scared on the pitch, I'll wussy out of runs down the line etc, and worst of all as I'm getting older it's becoming more and more physical and I don't like that, because many defenders are humongous beasts who will just clamp me.

Of course I can lower my standards and go for a really ****ty team in a real crappy league but I quite fancy joining a side that are say about 3/4 leagues below League 2 if you know what I mean.

Take Chris Dickson for example, plays for Charlton, about a year ago he was playing for Dulwich Hamlet FC about 3/4 leagues below League 2. He was snapped up, and my mate was on the bench for the other team at just 17. I know a lot of people who I wouldn't say are better than me that have got into the youth teams of sides such as Dulwich, Croydon Athletic etc. They can then progress into the first teams if good enough, and then there's no reason why you can't become a professional footballer then. I really want to get amongst it but I'm bricking it! What do you think? Go for it? And if so why? Don't say I've got nothing to lose, if I happen to be **** for some reason then I'll feel completely humiliated.

Thanks.

Reply 1

Clubber Lang

well you are only 17 - i reckon it might take a few motnhs ebfore you get back to peak fitness and footballing baility though,.

I sugegst you start exercising and practising because you wnana be fairly good before you go to matches.

Just go for it - if it doesnt work out as a career it will still be a laugh.
At the higher end the pressure iwll be on you - you need to find a decent friendly tewam though.

Reply 2

FM08

ye I know, I coul get my fitness levels up by running non stop down my park. But I really dont know how to get some footballing practice, there's no more footie games or park meetings for footie games etc. I don't play it anywhere. I played it on Saturday and I got back into it brilliantly and wouldn't say that my ability vanished, I was quite pleased to see I felt that spark in my game still. I don't really see it as a career but it's as you say a good laugh, a chance for a good standard of football and ultimately I can work towards something, something to aim for. I like the structure of it all.

But do you know that feeling when you've just missed a sitter and everyone barracks you? That makes me feel awful, there's a lot of pressure in the game throughout all levels. I just feel like I'm going to let the team down, an't help it it's my mindset at the minute.

Also it's really daunting just the thought of going training with a bunch of players who are fit and a good set of players I suppose, who all know each other etc. you're the new guy and are mexpected to impress and better the players they currently have on their books! argh hate that too lol.

Reply 3

Clubber Lang

soudns like you need to go in at a level just below your best. build up some confidence and all that.

the season has only just started - teams looking for players NOW will probably be desperate so as a striker you may suddenly fidn yourself first choice.

Reply 4

FM08

But the thing is as I've lost touch with the game, I don't know what my level is anymore. I haven't played for a club in a long time and I don't know about the stndards what with so many different leagues in London which makes it all the more complicated.

And where do I join these teams? You won't know because you're not in London going by your profile but like where are these leagues advertised and stuff? I don' know anything about them or any leagues or anything lol. Hopefully there's some Londoners on her ethat can direct me in a way to a league etc or whatever, thanks anyways peeps.

Reply 5

Clubber Lang

I foudn it quite hard to get in without knowing people who already played for a team.

You can try this website http://www.yellowjersey.co.uk/

there is a section on there where teams advertise for new players. also check local papers out.

Reply 6

Shaun.stevens

Oh My God!, I'm in the same Problem as you, although we might be on very different levels of skill in football, that meaning me being the lowest of us I to have not played football in over a year, I've been thinking recently about getting back my fittness over a couple of months and possibly trying out for a football club, in my own personal opinion I am an average level of skill playing football but i have much time for improvement :P, also I am the same age as you (17) and also feeling nervous about trying out for a club and being nothing compared to others, my advice to do is the course im going to take, which is if we dont actually try getting past being nervous about it we will never find out if we are good enough to get in a clubs first team, ..... anyway i would like to give you my email address and if you do find a place in a football club let me know about it because i would love to be able to join possibly the same club if you live not far from me.

[email protected] add me on msn or somthing :P cya and good luck with your training

Reply 7

Shaun.stevens

just to add, I did notice that these posts are from awhile back, I was hoping that if you had gotten into a team now if you could give me some advice on what I should do about joining a club myself. any help would be awesome, put if got in contact with me via my email i posted before, then that would be nice ,,, thanks