This Academy thing just seems to be a piss take.
Here's the blurb
FC United Academy provides an opportunity for young male & female footballers (16-19 years) to experience a full-time training/games programme, whilst studying NCFE Level 2 and 3 (equivalent to 3 A levels).
UEFA A licenced coaches will deliver high quality training sessions, giving the players the best opportunity to develop to their highest potential with the aim to progress into FC United first team. Our ambition is to also provide players with alternative exit routes to stay within the game at different levels and also talent sessions in which scouts from various professional football clubs will come to watch the players.
Players will also be given high quality teaching by our education partners, SCL in our newly refurbished classrooms at Broadhurst Park. The NCFE Level 3 course will offer players a chance to earn UCAS points to progress into universities. Over the 2 year programme, universities and American scholarship colleges will be invited to the Academy to present to players along with various other career pathways to give the players as many options as possible.
They think 140 students are going to turn up with the aim of ''staying in the game at different levels''?
I'd love to know how many of these students have made it into the 1st team / gone onto other clubs. And if there are 140 of them, how do they all get an academy game?*
If they had potential they'd already have been picked up elsewhere. Of course there is always the odd Stuart Pearce / Ian Wright route into football but they are very few and far between.
And declaring that American Universities and scholarship colleges will be invited to attend the Academy to view the students on display is like me saying ''I'm having a birthday party next week and have invited Morrissey''. He won't attend (or say he will but will cancel ;) but that's not the point, I invited him.
How many American colleges have attended over the years?
I get that there is the chance to gain qualifications, but that's what regular colleges offer. The whole thing seems like a made up college course where 140 students are given false hope that there is a career in football for them at the end of it. The fact that only 17 students have enrolled makes me think that the other 123 think along the same lines too and are giving it a wide berth.