19 Jul 2021 16:52:16
Just a post for the banter page, sorry it's not specifically Liverpool oriented but about youth football.
I got talking on whatsapp to a friend of mine last night, who is a grassroots level coach. He had been speaking to a Burnley coach who had scouted him as a youth. Told him the money in youth football is shocking. I'm sure someone out there will correct me, but this coach said to my mate, who is based in Wales, that if a Tier 1 club wants to sign a promising U12s player from TNS for example, being a one club rule in existence there at that club, that they could pay as much as 30k in compensation for said child. At another academy further up the country who don't have a one club rule, they can get that player for free.
That compensation goes to the club for training the kid, although I know these kids are having to pay the clubs for their training - up to £500 at one club near us, whereas its £175 a season at others. Shouldnt the compensation be split somehow between the club and the parents who have already paid for his training and travel?
Seems as if some of these academies are not just taking the best players, but the best players who's parents can afford a hefty subscription for the season and travel expenses.

{Ed025's Note - good post that Dar, well done mate..

1.) 19 Jul 2021
19 Jul 2021 20:33:43
Cheers ed025. This scout was disgusted by it, and rightly so. Seems as if these academies are happy to use these kids and their parents as an easy source of income. We all want our kids to have the best coaching etc, but I'd thought the best kids would have the privilege of free coaching.

2.) 19 Jul 2021
19 Jul 2021 20:33:50
Is a good post Dar, maybe all the big clubs should be paying back at grass roots if they're taking some local clubs players on. I played a tiny bit of youth footy back in the day, was rubbish at it, but even 1K for one of our lads would have paid for so much equipment. I definitely agree compensation to the parents too. My mum and Dad used to drive my Brother all over Preston and Lancashire to play and couldn't have been cheap!

{Ed0666's Note - I know Preston very well used to live there. Had a massive brawl there which was something out of Gangs of New York! Let’s just say it was sons of immigrants 1 fascist scumbag thugs 0

3.) 19 Jul 2021
19 Jul 2021 21:35:18
My lad has played for academies in North wales and the fees are extortionate added to the cost of driving 100+ miles some weeks to play in games. The 2 main Welsh academies in Flintshire are £700+ per year for subs and kit.

4.) 19 Jul 2021
19 Jul 2021 21:50:37
RH18, it's what parents do isn't it. don't want to deprive their kids a chance if you can help it.
Two lads from my lads' team have signed for the academy just over the border in Wales. they'll then travel an hour and a half to one of their away matches. And where I'm from originally in the topmost part of N. Wales, there have been lads picked up over the years by the premier league north west clubs, but you are looking at 90 minutes travel there, training, then 90 minutes back on a school night. Now I think you aren't allowed to be any further than 60 minutes away.

5.) 19 Jul 2021
19 Jul 2021 22:42:16
Last couple of years playing here in Queensland and the cost on the young players was awful. I was semi-pro so got paid a bit but felt bad for some young lads knocking on the door from the youth set up.
Some of these kids families moved to Brisbane from the regions as the distances to travel are huge. The parents found new jobs, rented a house etc and still had to fork out about the equivalent of 1600 pound a year just for fees. As some of the kids were under 18 one of the parents would usually travel independently to games all up and down the east coast at huge cost. I only ever saw 1 players come through and actually make a living at A-League level.