OffertonBlue
Well-Known Member
I doubt many will have played professionally that are on Bluemoon, indeed I doubt many will have played professionally if you asked the same question on every football forum in the country. People underestimate how difficult it is to make it professionally. I seem to recall that from all the boys playing school boy football in the country at the moment, less than 0.01% will make it professionally, and that is for all 92 clubs, not just the Premiership clubs.
I played at a good level at junior football and was fortunate to be "scouted" at the late age of 12 for a then first division club. Over half of my youth team mates made it professionally, two even playing for City later in their careers, another scored in the old European Cup, etc. so overall not a bad youth team. But that team was an exception and it is even more difficult to make it professionally now than what is was in my day. The days of good non league players making it professionally are almost zero in todays game. They are too far behind technically, lifestyle wise and fitness levels that they will never catch up to those playing at academy standards from a very early age.
All the players I have known to make it professionally were very talented, supported by "feet on the ground dedicated families" and they lived a healthy lifestyle with early nights, no boozing, dedicated, determined, etc which led to incredible levels of fitness. All have been drilled from a very early age to carry out match day instructions, positional sense, etc to go with their undoubted ability. They have also had luck on their side with playing well when it mattered and being free of any serious injuries when they were younger. In summary, what all my ramblings above are trying to say is that it is unbelievably difficult to make it as a professional, hence why I will be surprised if many come on here who have played professionally.
Incidentally, I never played professionally as I wasn't fit enough or dedicated enough, although I did get paid for playing semi pro in later years. I was also paid for playing as early as 12 years old, despite this being illegal, as it was an attempt to gain your loyalty to the club from a young age. This was in the form of weekly "expenses". Every Thursday after training you'd sign an "expenses sheet" saying your parents had lost wages taking you to training sessions, petrol, new boots, shin pads, etc etc etc. The brown "pay packet" of cash was always very well received by all the parents of the youth teams players! And finally, I've deliberately not disclosed players names or clubs, as this wouldn't be fair or wise on a public forum.
I played at a good level at junior football and was fortunate to be "scouted" at the late age of 12 for a then first division club. Over half of my youth team mates made it professionally, two even playing for City later in their careers, another scored in the old European Cup, etc. so overall not a bad youth team. But that team was an exception and it is even more difficult to make it professionally now than what is was in my day. The days of good non league players making it professionally are almost zero in todays game. They are too far behind technically, lifestyle wise and fitness levels that they will never catch up to those playing at academy standards from a very early age.
All the players I have known to make it professionally were very talented, supported by "feet on the ground dedicated families" and they lived a healthy lifestyle with early nights, no boozing, dedicated, determined, etc which led to incredible levels of fitness. All have been drilled from a very early age to carry out match day instructions, positional sense, etc to go with their undoubted ability. They have also had luck on their side with playing well when it mattered and being free of any serious injuries when they were younger. In summary, what all my ramblings above are trying to say is that it is unbelievably difficult to make it as a professional, hence why I will be surprised if many come on here who have played professionally.
Incidentally, I never played professionally as I wasn't fit enough or dedicated enough, although I did get paid for playing semi pro in later years. I was also paid for playing as early as 12 years old, despite this being illegal, as it was an attempt to gain your loyalty to the club from a young age. This was in the form of weekly "expenses". Every Thursday after training you'd sign an "expenses sheet" saying your parents had lost wages taking you to training sessions, petrol, new boots, shin pads, etc etc etc. The brown "pay packet" of cash was always very well received by all the parents of the youth teams players! And finally, I've deliberately not disclosed players names or clubs, as this wouldn't be fair or wise on a public forum.