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In this episode, we sit down with Neil Harris, a highly experienced academy coach with over 20 years at Manchester United. Neil has been instrumental in shaping the journeys of countless young players (such as Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo, Scott McTominay, Anthony Elanga and more!) and brings a wealth of insight into what it really takes to progress through one of the most competitive youth systems in the world.

Together, we explore the inner workings of elite academies, the qualities top clubs look for in young talent, and how families can best support aspiring footballers through the highs and lows of academy life.

💡 Expect to learn:

• The key attributes that separate good players from great prospects.

• What it’s really like inside a Premier League academy.

• Advice for parents navigating the emotional and practical challenges of youth football.

This conversation is full of first-hand experiences and practical advice for anyone involved in the journey of a young footballer.

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#ProjectFootballer #AcademyFootball #YouthDevelopment #FootballJourney #ManUtdAcademy #ParentalSupport

In this episode, we sit down with Chris Platts, a career coach and leading researcher in football career trajectories. Chris holds a PhD focused on the lives of over 300 young footballers and has led one of the largest independent studies into player career pathways.

We dive deep into the real data behind football development, uncovering what it truly takes to “make it” in the game—and how parents can better support their children through the realities of academy football.

💡 In this episode, you'll learn:
• How to navigate the academy system
• Why it’s so important to redefine what “making it” actually means
• How to help your child build resilience and plan for life beyond football

This one is packed with powerful, practical advice for anyone supporting a young player.

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#ProjectFootballer #AcademyFootball #YouthDevelopment #ParentSupport #FootballJourney

In this episode, we’re joined by Jenny and Jeriah Boateng, a mother-son duo with an incredible story. Jeriah is an academy footballer, paving the way for his younger brother Zachary, and their journey is nothing short of inspiring.Jeriah, at just 11 years old, has already made waves both on and off the pitch. After experiencing racism at school, he channeled his emotions into writing a book, Back in Time, which helps parents discuss racism with their young children. His story is a powerful reminder of how challenges can be turned into opportunities for growth and education.Jenny opens up about what it’s like raising academy footballers while managing a family of four, sharing valuable insights on balancing football, school, and life. She also offers advice to parents navigating the academy system, emphasizing the importance of patience, resilience, and fostering multiple passions in young athletes.💡 Expect to learn:* How parents can support their children in academy football.* The importance of teaching kids to handle pressure and think beyond the game.* How Jeriah’s book is creating meaningful conversations about racism.This is an episode packed with wisdom and inspiration—you don’t want to miss it!#ProjectFootballer #AcademyFootball #YouthDevelopment #ParentSupport #FootballJourney

In this episode, we sit down with one of our biggest guests to date! Troy Deeney is known to many as a Watford legend, and most certainly a player who enjoyed ruffling the feathers of defenders and fans all around the country. 

Since his retirement, Troy had a management spell at Forest Green Rovers, however now spends the majority of his time raising his son and daughter. We discuss with Troy the ins and outs of raising children of a professional footballer and whether or not he believes they have what it takes to make it as footballers! 

Expect to learn how you would raise the perfect footballer, from a retired pro who has gone through so much! This is an episode you cannot miss...

In this episode I sit down with two of the leaders in Wycombe's bold academy vision! Academy Director Jeremy Sauer and Chairman & Chief Football Office Dan Rice offer a behind-the-scenes look at Wycombe's ambitious plans to build one of the leading academies in the UK.

In May 2024 Wycombe Wanders was purchased by the billionaire owner Mikheil Lomtadze through his company Blue Ocean Partners. Mikel and his partners had been looking for a professional club in England without an academy so they could build one from scratch. After great research Wycombe Wanderers came out as the perfect opportunity with its geographical proximity to football talent and its incredible football history and culture.

Expect to learn how you would create the perfect academy if you were starting one from scratch and what goes into the process from club playing style to how to building the facilities.

In this episode, Marcelo and I have the pleasure of speaking with Peter Sturgess, the Ex-Head of Futsal for the FA. Peter is thought of by many as one of the best youth coaches in England, and is responsible for so much of the great work done by the FA in recent years which led to vast improvements in our national team.

Join us as we dive deep into the help Peter had in creating much of the foundation phase coaching courses in England, as well as his role as Head of Futsal for the FA.

Expect to gain valuable insights into the intricacies of youth football coaching, the importance futsal has on today’s generation and the ongoing journey to produce world-class talent, especially in England!

Whether you’re a coach, a parent, or just a passionate football fan, this conversation is packed with knowledge and perspectives you won’t want to miss!

This week, the Coach Raf and Sean discuss all things tactics after Manchester City's last gasp equaliser in their 2-2 draw with Arsenal.

In this episode, we chat about the big issues in youth soccer in the USA. Did you know that 75% of kids quit playing by age 14? We explore why that’s happening and how the focus on winning is making the game less fun and stifling creativity.

In this episode, Darius and I have the pleasure of speaking with John Allpress, the original creator of the FA Coaching Awards. These awards have evolved into the Youth Module courses currently used across England, shaping our football coaching culture and contributing to the development of the talented players we see in our national senior team today.

In this episode, Marcelo and I speak to Richard Allen.

Richard Allen is the former Head of Talent ID for the FA as well as Head of Recruitment for Tottenham and Academy Director for QPR. He was responsible for creating the original Talent ID courses that govern how we scout in England today. These courses range from teaching scouts at the grassroots level what they should look for and how academy directors should manage their heads of recruitment and their scouting departments.

We ask the question have academies in England got this right? Expect to learn how English recruitment works, the English talent ID model,the psychological and social factors which helped Harry Kane get scouted and much much more

🔔 Follow for more insights on what parents must know about academy signings!

Could you develop your child into a footballer if you followed the 'perfect' formula? Sean Conlon, the founder of We Make Footballers and a Scout with Chelsea believes some people can.

Follow our journey to discovering what it really takes to become a footballer. How much is down to luck, genetics or being born into a football family. 🎧

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