UK Professional Team Trials

[74offsuit]

Does anybody know the most efficient way to approach Pro clubs, with players that you think they should take a look at?

The reason being, that I have two U15 lads, who other coaches praise highly.

Do you send a video? a letter? Am I aiming too high and should consider semi-pro teams?

One of the lads was rejected by Luton a couple of years back, and I think this could have been because of size, he fits the Jermaine Defoe size type.

Do pro academies still want big strong players in this day and age? (I'm hoping football has moved on, and skill plays some part)

Anyway, any opinions gratefully accepted.

[ian.curry]

I think that nowadays, players are not missed - like Wright or Ferdinand. If they are good enough, they will be spotted, either playing for school or your team, county football etc.
I have a defender who is an excellent player, but is he any better than what they have already got? Is he better than other defenders in the league?

Football can be a very close knit family at times, amongst a select few. Sometimes a player may get a trial because x knows y - if you know what I mean.

I'd say sending a letter wouldn't do any harm - reaching a cup final or playing 1st division week in week out would be better.
Even approach local academies to see if they would like a friendly with your team - our 15s are playing Leeds on Sunday.

[74offsuit]

OK, nice one Ian, given me some good ideas there, thank you.

[Cookie]

Originally Posted by 74offsuit

OK, nice one Ian, given me some good ideas there, thank you.

74offsuit

I'm sure you said you are coaching a team in my neck of the woods, was it Fairlands? Assuming you play in the Royston Crow, have the players been for trials and been accepted into the representative side?

I know that scouts, albeit mainly from non-Premiership clubs, do go along to watch games at this level as they know somebody else has already (hopefully) sorted the wheat from the chaff and they will be watching some quality players.

Our club have already had approaches from pro-clubs about signing players on schoolboy contracts after they impressed playing for Royston Crow representative team this season. For my younger team that I coach I have one girl who is excellent and I approached Arsenal directly about their talent identification programme and they asked me to send her along for pre-trials just this week. I'm pleased to say she made it through to the full summer trials in May even though she is/was 2 or 3 years younger than most that were there.

[74offsuit]

Yes, my lads are Fairlands U15 in the Roston Crow.

As far as I am aware, we have never had a rep side scout watch us, and I think there is quite a lot of politics involved in who they favour.

Historically, Fairlands have not had the best record for being sporting and have also had discipline 'issues'.

Even though, these issues have been resolved, it can be difficult to change peoples attitudes.

It is something I will look into though, another good avenue to explore, cheers!

[DB1]

H

Blimey, I used to play for Fairlands Youth and now coach at a Centre of Excellence. The boys or you could write in for trials or recommendations or if you can e-mail me some fixtures I will watch them.

Mel

[Cookie]

Originally Posted by 74offsuit

Yes, my lads are Fairlands U15 in the Roston Crow.

As far as I am aware, we have never had a rep side scout watch us, and I think there is quite a lot of politics involved in who they favour.

Historically, Fairlands have not had the best record for being sporting and have also had discipline 'issues'.

Even though, these issues have been resolved, it can be difficult to change peoples attitudes.

It is something I will look into though, another good avenue to explore, cheers!

The rep side don't scout, they hold trials every season. They have rules that keep the number of boys from any one club down to a minimum (I think it is two) and also the coach of each rep age group can not be a manager of a team at that age group to try and keep it unbiased.

I can find out the details for you, but it will probably be for the start of next season now.

**EDIT** The person running the Royston Crow U15 rep team is: Caimin Rowntree, 07802 842114, caimin.rowntree@ntlworld.com

[74offsuit]

Ah I see, sorry I read that wrong before.

Nice on I will contact them, and try to organise something for next season.

[Cookie]

Originally Posted by 74offsuit

Ah I see, sorry I read that wrong before.

Nice on I will contact them, and try to organise something for next season.

I think I may have hepled one of your opponents in the Royston Crow recently. I received a request to coach and prepare a flagging team who were being resoundly beaten week in and week out and had shattered confidence as well as limited ability. They told me that their best ever season was obtaining something like six points! (so it was an easy win for me to show that I could improve them!)

So I spent some time last season and the summer helping them get fit and going right back to basics in terms of coaching them and they seem to have done ok towards the end of last season and again this year. The club was Benington and they are now enjoying their most impressive season and their coach has told me that they are in the top four and enjoying their best-ever points tally! (though I've had to give up helping them out now due to commitments with my own two teams)

[74offsuit]

Originally Posted by Cookie

I think I may have hepled one of your opponents in the Royston Crow recently. I received a request to coach and prepare a flagging team who were being resoundly beaten week in and week out and had shattered confidence as well as limited ability. They told me that their best ever season was obtaining something like six points! (so it was an easy win for me to show that I could improve them!)

So I spent some time last season and the summer helping them get fit and going right back to basics in terms of coaching them and they seem to have done ok towards the end of last season and again this year. The club was Benington and they are now enjoying their most impressive season and their coach has told me that they are in the top four and enjoying their best-ever points tally! (though I've had to give up helping them out now due to commitments with my own two teams)

Indeed!

Benington are our local rivals!!

We always have a good game with them, and both are sides are well up for it, as there are bragging rights to play for back at their schools etc.

It is extremely noticable how much they have improved. Used to be a guaranteed win for us, but not anymore. Last game they beat us 4-1, I think, but it was better game than the score suggested. I am genuinely pleased for their lads and it shows what quality coaching can achieve.