First 10 mins of Stockport-Salford match...

[GazLaz]

L2 is awful. Imagine watching Man City the other night and playing in L2 and still referring to yourself as a footballer. Certainly nothing to brag about being getting paid a wage to play football in the 4th tier or below. The majority of players are just getting a wage by default really.

Usually your posts are sensible and make sense but this statement is so unbelievably wrong it’s crazy..
for any footballer to get to a level good enough to play at league 2 is an unbelievable achievement, and you’ve got to be a player with outstanding ability to make it to that level.

4th and 5th division players are generally closer to being amateur players than elite players though aren’t they?

[ncRover]

L2 is awful. Imagine watching Man City the other night and playing in L2 and still referring to yourself as a footballer. Certainly nothing to brag about being getting paid a wage to play football in the 4th tier or below. The majority of players are just getting a wage by default really.

Usually your posts are sensible and make sense but this statement is so unbelievably wrong it’s crazy..
for any footballer to get to a level good enough to play at league 2 is an unbelievable achievement, and you’ve got to be a player with outstanding ability to make it to that level.

4th and 5th division players are generally closer to being amateur players than elite players though aren’t they?

Who was the best footballer at your school Gaz and where are they now?

[Campsall rover]

L2 is awful. Imagine watching Man City the other night and playing in L2 and still referring to yourself as a footballer. Certainly nothing to brag about being getting paid a wage to play football in the 4th tier or below. The majority of players are just getting a wage by default really.

Usually your posts are sensible and make sense but this statement is so unbelievably wrong it’s crazy..
for any footballer to get to a level good enough to play at league 2 is an unbelievable achievement, and you’ve got to be a player with outstanding ability to make it to that level.

4th and 5th division players are generally closer to being amateur players than elite players though aren’t they?

You’re being very disrespectful GazLaz about lower league footballers.
How many players over the years started at tier 4 or even 5 and went on to have good careers in the top tier or tier 2 of the pyramid.
Just look at how many Rovers players that have done that over the years.
Look at how many that played in the top 2 tiers then come down and play in the lower leagues at the end of their careers.

[GazLaz]

L2 is awful. Imagine watching Man City the other night and playing in L2 and still referring to yourself as a footballer. Certainly nothing to brag about being getting paid a wage to play football in the 4th tier or below. The majority of players are just getting a wage by default really.

Usually your posts are sensible and make sense but this statement is so unbelievably wrong it’s crazy..
for any footballer to get to a level good enough to play at league 2 is an unbelievable achievement, and you’ve got to be a player with outstanding ability to make it to that level.

4th and 5th division players are generally closer to being amateur players than elite players though aren’t they?

You’re being very disrespectful GazLaz about lower league footballers.
How many players over the years started at tier 4 or even 5 and went on to have good careers in the top tier or tier 2 of the pyramid.
Just look at how many Rovers players that have done that over the years.
Look at how many that played in the top 2 tiers then come down and play in the lower leagues at the end of their careers.

Not that many become elite players. Discounting loanees obviously.

[BillyStubbsTears]

L2 is awful. Imagine watching Man City the other night and playing in L2 and still referring to yourself as a footballer. Certainly nothing to brag about being getting paid a wage to play football in the 4th tier or below. The majority of players are just getting a wage by default really.

Usually your posts are sensible and make sense but this statement is so unbelievably wrong it’s crazy..
for any footballer to get to a level good enough to play at league 2 is an unbelievable achievement, and you’ve got to be a player with outstanding ability to make it to that level.

4th and 5th division players are generally closer to being amateur players than elite players though aren’t they?

You’re being very disrespectful GazLaz about lower league footballers.
How many players over the years started at tier 4 or even 5 and went on to have good careers in the top tier or tier 2 of the pyramid.
Just look at how many Rovers players that have done that over the years.
Look at how many that played in the top 2 tiers then come down and play in the lower leagues at the end of their careers.

Not that many become elite players. Discounting loanees obviously.

And how many established amateur playera make it to L2 level?

[Butchers Red]

L2 is awful. Imagine watching Man City the other night and playing in L2 and still referring to yourself as a footballer. Certainly nothing to brag about being getting paid a wage to play football in the 4th tier or below. The majority of players are just getting a wage by default really.

Usually your posts are sensible and make sense but this statement is so unbelievably wrong it’s crazy..
for any footballer to get to a level good enough to play at league 2 is an unbelievable achievement, and you’ve got to be a player with outstanding ability to make it to that level.

4th and 5th division players are generally closer to being amateur players than elite players though aren’t they?

You’re being very disrespectful GazLaz about lower league footballers.
How many players over the years started at tier 4 or even 5 and went on to have good careers in the top tier or tier 2 of the pyramid.
Just look at how many Rovers players that have done that over the years.
Look at how many that played in the top 2 tiers then come down and play in the lower leagues at the end of their careers.

Not that many become elite players. Discounting loanees obviously.

And how many established amateur playera make it to L2 level?

To put it in perspective - a local junior outfit like Tickhill Juniors which has been going around 30 years, and for the last 10 years or so been one of the larger set ups, has had literally many thousands of kids through the door, produced loads of successful junior sides etc,etc yet the only one I know of ever to play League Football was Robert Betts about 25 years ago( Coventry etc ) .The only other famous ex TJFC kid I am aware of is Louis Tomlinson !!

[jmt23]

I’d be interested to see a list of donny lads who have made it as pro’s, or just currently playing in the league. I’d never heard of the lad at Swansea mentioned in another thread.

[Monkcaster_Rover]

I’d be interested to see a list of donny lads who have made it as pro’s, or just currently playing in the league. I’d never heard of the lad at Swansea mentioned in another thread.

Alex Mowatt. Alex Cairns. Mason Holgate. Jerry Yates. Danny Rose floating about somewhere. Callum Howe (Solihulls captain but not quite league status)

[Campsall rover]

L2 is awful. Imagine watching Man City the other night and playing in L2 and still referring to yourself as a footballer. Certainly nothing to brag about being getting paid a wage to play football in the 4th tier or below. The majority of players are just getting a wage by default really.

Usually your posts are sensible and make sense but this statement is so unbelievably wrong it’s crazy..
for any footballer to get to a level good enough to play at league 2 is an unbelievable achievement, and you’ve got to be a player with outstanding ability to make it to that level.

4th and 5th division players are generally closer to being amateur players than elite players though aren’t they?

You’re being very disrespectful GazLaz about lower league footballers.
How many players over the years started at tier 4 or even 5 and went on to have good careers in the top tier or tier 2 of the pyramid.
Just look at how many Rovers players that have done that over the years.
Look at how many that played in the top 2 tiers then come down and play in the lower leagues at the end of their careers.

Not that many become elite players. Discounting loanees obviously.

And how many established amateur playera make it to L2 level?

To put it in perspective - a local junior outfit like Tickhill Juniors which has been going around 30 years, and for the last 10 years or so been one of the larger set ups, has had literally many thousands of kids through the door, produced loads of successful junior sides etc,etc yet the only one I know of ever to play League Football was Robert Betts about 25 years ago( Coventry etc ) .The only other famous ex TJFC kid I am aware of is Louis Tomlinson !!

Norton United produced 3 players Adie Moses, Neil Illman ( my stepson ) & Sam Hird who all made there Football League debuts between 1993 and 2006 for Barnsley, Middlesbrough & Rovers respectively.

But yes not many lads make it to the top 4/5 tiers. Not many at all.

[GazLaz]

L2 is awful. Imagine watching Man City the other night and playing in L2 and still referring to yourself as a footballer. Certainly nothing to brag about being getting paid a wage to play football in the 4th tier or below. The majority of players are just getting a wage by default really.

Usually your posts are sensible and make sense but this statement is so unbelievably wrong it’s crazy..
for any footballer to get to a level good enough to play at league 2 is an unbelievable achievement, and you’ve got to be a player with outstanding ability to make it to that level.

4th and 5th division players are generally closer to being amateur players than elite players though aren’t they?

You’re being very disrespectful GazLaz about lower league footballers.
How many players over the years started at tier 4 or even 5 and went on to have good careers in the top tier or tier 2 of the pyramid.
Just look at how many Rovers players that have done that over the years.
Look at how many that played in the top 2 tiers then come down and play in the lower leagues at the end of their careers.

Not that many become elite players. Discounting loanees obviously.

And how many established amateur playera make it to L2 level?

To put it in perspective - a local junior outfit like Tickhill Juniors which has been going around 30 years, and for the last 10 years or so been one of the larger set ups, has had literally many thousands of kids through the door, produced loads of successful junior sides etc,etc yet the only one I know of ever to play League Football was Robert Betts about 25 years ago( Coventry etc ) .The only other famous ex TJFC kid I am aware of is Louis Tomlinson !!

Terry Barwick played for them and played league football.

[RoversInSpain]

I remember Desi Bennett at Danum as a kid, he was immense way out in front of any other kid and so strong. He’s probably the best young player i’d seen as a youngster myself and also of any young kids I saw whilst watching my lad play. He was brilliant. Made one substitute appearance for Rovers. Did go to Australia or New Zealand I think and played down there. Always reminds me how good you need to be to just get anywhere near 4th Division standard.

[Jonathan]

I’d be interested to see a list of donny lads who have made it as pro’s, or just currently playing in the league. I’d never heard of the lad at Swansea mentioned in another thread.

Alex Mowatt. Alex Cairns. Mason Holgate. Jerry Yates. Danny Rose floating about somewhere. Callum Howe (Solihulls captain but not quite league status)

Darren Mansaram and Lee Beevers went to my school and made professional careers.

As others have said, it’s a really tough industry. To suggest that those that make it to League Two shouldn’t be able to class themselves footballers is incredibly ignorant and disrespectful. I doubt there are many on here that made it but we all throw our opinions around.

[Nudga]

I remember Desi Bennett at Danum as a kid, he was immense way out in front of any other kid and so strong. He’s probably the best young player i’d seen as a youngster myself and also of any young kids I saw whilst watching my lad play. He was brilliant. Made one substitute appearance for Rovers. Did go to Australia or New Zealand I think and played down there. Always reminds me how good you need to be to just get anywhere near 4th Division standard.

Played against Desi a few times. He once stamped on the b*llocks of one of our lads which set off a massive brawl.
Great days.

[Rovers91]

L2 is awful. Imagine watching Man City the other night and playing in L2 and still referring to yourself as a footballer. Certainly nothing to brag about being getting paid a wage to play football in the 4th tier or below. The majority of players are just getting a wage by default really.

Usually your posts are sensible and make sense but this statement is so unbelievably wrong it’s crazy..
for any footballer to get to a level good enough to play at league 2 is an unbelievable achievement, and you’ve got to be a player with outstanding ability to make it to that level.

4th and 5th division players are generally closer to being amateur players than elite players though aren’t they?

You’re being very disrespectful GazLaz about lower league footballers.
How many players over the years started at tier 4 or even 5 and went on to have good careers in the top tier or tier 2 of the pyramid.
Just look at how many Rovers players that have done that over the years.
Look at how many that played in the top 2 tiers then come down and play in the lower leagues at the end of their careers.

Not that many become elite players. Discounting loanees obviously.

Doesn't matter if they don't go on to become elite players, even just to play in league 2 is a great achievement. The amount of players that have never played 11 a side Sunday league football because they have spent all their time at academies and don't make it even to league 2 football shows how difficult it is to even get to that level. So they do have the right to call themselves a professional footballer and brag a little about it.

[colfromdonny]

Dave Speedie

[Chris Black come back]

Christian Lee, Michael Rankine and Lee Cowling.

[Prez]

Andy Butler.

[Nudga]

Christian Lee, Michael Rankine and Lee Cowling.

Christian Lee was shite, amazing what your dad's money can get you.

[GazLaz]

Harry Middleton!

[GazLaz]

L2 is awful. Imagine watching Man City the other night and playing in L2 and still referring to yourself as a footballer. Certainly nothing to brag about being getting paid a wage to play football in the 4th tier or below. The majority of players are just getting a wage by default really.

Usually your posts are sensible and make sense but this statement is so unbelievably wrong it’s crazy..
for any footballer to get to a level good enough to play at league 2 is an unbelievable achievement, and you’ve got to be a player with outstanding ability to make it to that level.

4th and 5th division players are generally closer to being amateur players than elite players though aren’t they?

You’re being very disrespectful GazLaz about lower league footballers.
How many players over the years started at tier 4 or even 5 and went on to have good careers in the top tier or tier 2 of the pyramid.
Just look at how many Rovers players that have done that over the years.
Look at how many that played in the top 2 tiers then come down and play in the lower leagues at the end of their careers.

Not that many become elite players. Discounting loanees obviously.

And how many established amateur playera make it to L2 level?

To put it in perspective - a local junior outfit like Tickhill Juniors which has been going around 30 years, and for the last 10 years or so been one of the larger set ups, has had literally many thousands of kids through the door, produced loads of successful junior sides etc,etc yet the only one I know of ever to play League Football was Robert Betts about 25 years ago( Coventry etc ) .The only other famous ex TJFC kid I am aware of is Louis Tomlinson !!

To be fair. You generally know if a kids got half a chance at 6 years old. They don’t play in local leagues after that. They get hoovered up by academies.

[Nudga]

L2 is awful. Imagine watching Man City the other night and playing in L2 and still referring to yourself as a footballer. Certainly nothing to brag about being getting paid a wage to play football in the 4th tier or below. The majority of players are just getting a wage by default really.

Usually your posts are sensible and make sense but this statement is so unbelievably wrong it’s crazy..
for any footballer to get to a level good enough to play at league 2 is an unbelievable achievement, and you’ve got to be a player with outstanding ability to make it to that level.

4th and 5th division players are generally closer to being amateur players than elite players though aren’t they?

You’re being very disrespectful GazLaz about lower league footballers.
How many players over the years started at tier 4 or even 5 and went on to have good careers in the top tier or tier 2 of the pyramid.
Just look at how many Rovers players that have done that over the years.
Look at how many that played in the top 2 tiers then come down and play in the lower leagues at the end of their careers.

Not that many become elite players. Discounting loanees obviously.

And how many established amateur playera make it to L2 level?

To put it in perspective - a local junior outfit like Tickhill Juniors which has been going around 30 years, and for the last 10 years or so been one of the larger set ups, has had literally many thousands of kids through the door, produced loads of successful junior sides etc,etc yet the only one I know of ever to play League Football was Robert Betts about 25 years ago( Coventry etc ) .The only other famous ex TJFC kid I am aware of is Louis Tomlinson !!

To be fair. You generally know if a kids got half a chance at 6 years old. They don’t play in local leagues after that. They get hoovered up by academies.

I would disagree on that. I've seen loads of kids at 6 and 7 years old who looked amazing and then look quite ordinary at 13 years old.

[sedwardsdrfc]

To be fair not many are rubbish at 6-7 and end up been pro players. To have at bit at that ages is just the start. Then players just get shedded from the big clubs till there’s a brilliant few at the older ages. And even then a lot of them never play much league football.

[dickos1]

L2 is awful. Imagine watching Man City the other night and playing in L2 and still referring to yourself as a footballer. Certainly nothing to brag about being getting paid a wage to play football in the 4th tier or below. The majority of players are just getting a wage by default really.

Usually your posts are sensible and make sense but this statement is so unbelievably wrong it’s crazy..
for any footballer to get to a level good enough to play at league 2 is an unbelievable achievement, and you’ve got to be a player with outstanding ability to make it to that level.

4th and 5th division players are generally closer to being amateur players than elite players though aren’t they?

You’re being very disrespectful GazLaz about lower league footballers.
How many players over the years started at tier 4 or even 5 and went on to have good careers in the top tier or tier 2 of the pyramid.
Just look at how many Rovers players that have done that over the years.
Look at how many that played in the top 2 tiers then come down and play in the lower leagues at the end of their careers.

Not that many become elite players. Discounting loanees obviously.

And how many established amateur playera make it to L2 level?

To put it in perspective - a local junior outfit like Tickhill Juniors which has been going around 30 years, and for the last 10 years or so been one of the larger set ups, has had literally many thousands of kids through the door, produced loads of successful junior sides etc,etc yet the only one I know of ever to play League Football was Robert Betts about 25 years ago( Coventry etc ) .The only other famous ex TJFC kid I am aware of is Louis Tomlinson !!

To be fair. You generally know if a kids got half a chance at 6 years old. They don’t play in local leagues after that. They get hoovered up by academies.

I would disagree on that. I've seen loads of kids at 6 and 7 years old who looked amazing and then look quite ordinary at 13 years old.

Completely agree
Kids all develop at different stages, you can have someone who can’t kick a ball at 6 but at 13 he’s incredible. And the same token a 6 year old can look outstanding but all the other kids have caught him up by 10.
They’re like little flower buds in a field all
Shooting up at different stages and different speeds.

[Nudga]

L2 is awful. Imagine watching Man City the other night and playing in L2 and still referring to yourself as a footballer. Certainly nothing to brag about being getting paid a wage to play football in the 4th tier or below. The majority of players are just getting a wage by default really.

Usually your posts are sensible and make sense but this statement is so unbelievably wrong it’s crazy..
for any footballer to get to a level good enough to play at league 2 is an unbelievable achievement, and you’ve got to be a player with outstanding ability to make it to that level.

4th and 5th division players are generally closer to being amateur players than elite players though aren’t they?

You’re being very disrespectful GazLaz about lower league footballers.
How many players over the years started at tier 4 or even 5 and went on to have good careers in the top tier or tier 2 of the pyramid.
Just look at how many Rovers players that have done that over the years.
Look at how many that played in the top 2 tiers then come down and play in the lower leagues at the end of their careers.

Not that many become elite players. Discounting loanees obviously.

And how many established amateur playera make it to L2 level?

To put it in perspective - a local junior outfit like Tickhill Juniors which has been going around 30 years, and for the last 10 years or so been one of the larger set ups, has had literally many thousands of kids through the door, produced loads of successful junior sides etc,etc yet the only one I know of ever to play League Football was Robert Betts about 25 years ago( Coventry etc ) .The only other famous ex TJFC kid I am aware of is Louis Tomlinson !!

To be fair. You generally know if a kids got half a chance at 6 years old. They don’t play in local leagues after that. They get hoovered up by academies.

I would disagree on that. I've seen loads of kids at 6 and 7 years old who looked amazing and then look quite ordinary at 13 years old.

Completely agree
Kids all develop at different stages, you can have someone who can’t kick a ball at 6 but at 13 he’s incredible. And the same token a 6 year old can look outstanding but all the other kids have caught him up by 10.
They’re like little flower buds in a field all
Shooting up at different stages and different speeds.

I've coached kids who had the ball super glued to their boots at 8 years old. When they got to under 14s they were a shadow of their former self because the game got too physical for them. A lot of lads drop out at 13/14.

[GazLaz]

L2 is awful. Imagine watching Man City the other night and playing in L2 and still referring to yourself as a footballer. Certainly nothing to brag about being getting paid a wage to play football in the 4th tier or below. The majority of players are just getting a wage by default really.

Usually your posts are sensible and make sense but this statement is so unbelievably wrong it’s crazy..
for any footballer to get to a level good enough to play at league 2 is an unbelievable achievement, and you’ve got to be a player with outstanding ability to make it to that level.

4th and 5th division players are generally closer to being amateur players than elite players though aren’t they?

You’re being very disrespectful GazLaz about lower league footballers.
How many players over the years started at tier 4 or even 5 and went on to have good careers in the top tier or tier 2 of the pyramid.
Just look at how many Rovers players that have done that over the years.
Look at how many that played in the top 2 tiers then come down and play in the lower leagues at the end of their careers.

Not that many become elite players. Discounting loanees obviously.

And how many established amateur playera make it to L2 level?

To put it in perspective - a local junior outfit like Tickhill Juniors which has been going around 30 years, and for the last 10 years or so been one of the larger set ups, has had literally many thousands of kids through the door, produced loads of successful junior sides etc,etc yet the only one I know of ever to play League Football was Robert Betts about 25 years ago( Coventry etc ) .The only other famous ex TJFC kid I am aware of is Louis Tomlinson !!

To be fair. You generally know if a kids got half a chance at 6 years old. They don’t play in local leagues after that. They get hoovered up by academies.

I would disagree on that. I've seen loads of kids at 6 and 7 years old who looked amazing and then look quite ordinary at 13 years old.

Of yourself you can be great at 6 and rubbish at 14. You are not going to be an elite player if you are rubbish at 6/7 though. You can’t really teach the fundamental motor skills they are born with, you just improve them more from a high base.

[Campsall rover]

L2 is awful. Imagine watching Man City the other night and playing in L2 and still referring to yourself as a footballer. Certainly nothing to brag about being getting paid a wage to play football in the 4th tier or below. The majority of players are just getting a wage by default really.

Usually your posts are sensible and make sense but this statement is so unbelievably wrong it’s crazy..
for any footballer to get to a level good enough to play at league 2 is an unbelievable achievement, and you’ve got to be a player with outstanding ability to make it to that level.

4th and 5th division players are generally closer to being amateur players than elite players though aren’t they?

You’re being very disrespectful GazLaz about lower league footballers.
How many players over the years started at tier 4 or even 5 and went on to have good careers in the top tier or tier 2 of the pyramid.
Just look at how many Rovers players that have done that over the years.
Look at how many that played in the top 2 tiers then come down and play in the lower leagues at the end of their careers.

Not that many become elite players. Discounting loanees obviously.

And how many established amateur playera make it to L2 level?

To put it in perspective - a local junior outfit like Tickhill Juniors which has been going around 30 years, and for the last 10 years or so been one of the larger set ups, has had literally many thousands of kids through the door, produced loads of successful junior sides etc,etc yet the only one I know of ever to play League Football was Robert Betts about 25 years ago( Coventry etc ) .The only other famous ex TJFC kid I am aware of is Louis Tomlinson !!

To be fair. You generally know if a kids got half a chance at 6 years old. They don’t play in local leagues after that. They get hoovered up by academies.

I would disagree on that. I've seen loads of kids at 6 and 7 years old who looked amazing and then look quite ordinary at 13 years old.

Completely agree
Kids all develop at different stages, you can have someone who can’t kick a ball at 6 but at 13 he’s incredible. And the same token a 6 year old can look outstanding but all the other kids have caught him up by 10.
They’re like little flower buds in a field all
Shooting up at different stages and different speeds.

Love that analogy dickos.
You’re not wrong. They all develop at different ages. Some improve as they get older and some go backwards or lose interest.
My Grandson was very average at 6 yrs of age. He will be 11 on Wednesday and he is now outstanding.
How good he will be in another 4/5 yrs who knows.

[GazLaz]

L2 is awful. Imagine watching Man City the other night and playing in L2 and still referring to yourself as a footballer. Certainly nothing to brag about being getting paid a wage to play football in the 4th tier or below. The majority of players are just getting a wage by default really.

Usually your posts are sensible and make sense but this statement is so unbelievably wrong it’s crazy..
for any footballer to get to a level good enough to play at league 2 is an unbelievable achievement, and you’ve got to be a player with outstanding ability to make it to that level.

4th and 5th division players are generally closer to being amateur players than elite players though aren’t they?

You’re being very disrespectful GazLaz about lower league footballers.
How many players over the years started at tier 4 or even 5 and went on to have good careers in the top tier or tier 2 of the pyramid.
Just look at how many Rovers players that have done that over the years.
Look at how many that played in the top 2 tiers then come down and play in the lower leagues at the end of their careers.

Not that many become elite players. Discounting loanees obviously.

And how many established amateur playera make it to L2 level?

To put it in perspective - a local junior outfit like Tickhill Juniors which has been going around 30 years, and for the last 10 years or so been one of the larger set ups, has had literally many thousands of kids through the door, produced loads of successful junior sides etc,etc yet the only one I know of ever to play League Football was Robert Betts about 25 years ago( Coventry etc ) .The only other famous ex TJFC kid I am aware of is Louis Tomlinson !!

To be fair. You generally know if a kids got half a chance at 6 years old. They don’t play in local leagues after that. They get hoovered up by academies.

I would disagree on that. I've seen loads of kids at 6 and 7 years old who looked amazing and then look quite ordinary at 13 years old.

Completely agree
Kids all develop at different stages, you can have someone who can’t kick a ball at 6 but at 13 he’s incredible. And the same token a 6 year old can look outstanding but all the other kids have caught him up by 10.
They’re like little flower buds in a field all
Shooting up at different stages and different speeds.

Love that analogy dickos.
You’re not wrong. They all develop at different ages. Some improve as they get older and some go backwards or lose interest.
My Grandson was very average at 6 yrs of age. He will be 11 on Wednesday and he is now outstanding.
How good he will be in another 4/5 yrs who knows.

Is he in the rovers set up?

[Silkscarf]

I always think Kevin Keegan is the outstanding example about youth development. He was too small everyone said and wasn’t particularly gifted. But he wanted it so much he worked hard constantly. Great biography with lots of Donny references and examples of the amazing fitness things he did.

He was my hero growing up and I played for the primary school, then Sunday league. But I packed it in by secondary school as I wanted to stay at home and watch Swap Shop on a Saturday morning! The top lad in our team went to Sheff Utd but dropped out later.

I watch my lad now who is 9. 1 or 2 of the 6 or 7 year olds he plays with look like Messi with the ball tied to their feet. But they have no clue about passing or finding space. It’s fascinating to watch. I coach him with a few ideas but mainly it’s about encouraging that love of playing the game, which never leaves you.

[Campsall rover]

GazLaz no he isn’t.
He was over a year ago but didn’t enjoy it.
He plays for Doncaster Boys schools U11’s
They have just won their league and a Cup also this season.

If he is good enough then he will get the attention of league Clubs later on.
I don’t personally think he needs to be at an Academy until probably age 13/14
Sometimes they get over coached at too early an age.
He needs to enjoy himself right now. He could suffer burn out before he gets to age 16. So many lads do and then lose interest.

Think if the ability is there then it doesn’t go away.
It’s all about desire and how much you are determined to be a Pro Footballer.
If you have the ability and are single minded about achieving Pro level by being prepared to work really hard, then that can be achieved without being in an Academy at a very early age imo.

[Crowle Rover]

One of my mates had a school friend who was on the books at Scunthorpe as a youth player.

They released him when he was 20. He occasionally helped out my mate's Sunday team when they were short of players and he said the skill this guy had was unbelievable. And he couldn't make it at fourth tier Scunthorpe.

I think people do underestimate what it takes to become a professional football player.