I’m assuming most people here have had a dreams of playing in cup final scoring the winner and such

So how far did you get to reaching such dreams

Did you reach academy levels l or high

I thought of this question because I’ve one of dad’s "oh I could played pro if it wasn’t for my shit knees

  • British_Flippancy@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I’ve posted elsewhere in this thread, but your story is incredibly similar to mine - really well written: enjoyed reading it.

    The part about the academy kids is very true. Being a uni first team player put me way ahead of them in terms of job prospects; they were so desperate to succeed but you could already see how hard being let go from a club hurt them. They still had a shit load of bravado, but you could tell it was to mask disappointment. They were mostly sound though and terrific players.

    I jacked in playing really early and don’t regret or miss it at all.

    It wasn’t fun enough (for what amounted to not very much pay, once I started a ‘proper’ career). Going to work on a Monday morning having been kicked about a bit soon got boring too!

    • mesmerisedmonkey@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      Thanks mate! Yeah I turned up to work with black eyes, limping, or crutches a good few times! Not fun when it starts hampering your daily life, but I suupose that can happy in Sunday league!

    • AndyVale@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      I mentioned elsewhere that my sixth form college was home to the academy team of our local National League team.

      As part of the academy, they could do a sports BTEC so they left with some recognised qualifications.

      My A-Level PE teacher taught some of the classes. One week they were all messing around, as per usual, and he just lost his rag a bit and asked the ringleaders “boys, you’re 17/18 years old, what are you going to be in 3-4 years time?”

      All replied “a footballer sir” full of all the expected confidence and bravado.

      He replied, “right. You’re all aware that only 2% of academy players end up playing regularly at the level of their parent club? There’s 20 of you in this class so statistically, none of you will make it at this level. Bear in mind, you’re at the academy of a semi-pro team. Your senior team teammates that you can’t get in the squad ahead of are plumbers, electricians, and PE teachers from 9-5 Monday to Friday. And you all think you’ll be the exception?”

      He said he liked to think the switch flicked in a few of their heads, but there was still this desperate belief they could make it. This had been their whole purpose and identity since they were toddlers, the hard hit of reality and having no solid back-up option wasn’t something they were looking forward to.