Why?

As someone who grew up playing football, this was a topic that I have wanted to investigate for a long time. Figures show that 95% of academy footballers get released, but is there enough in place for those released to have a successful career outside of the sport? After learning of Tony Pulis' investigation into the subject, it was clear that he was someone I needed to speak to.

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Tony Pulis

The legendary manager has long wanted to investigate the topic of academy football. Through working as head of media at Wimborne Town FC, I was able to get Tony's contact details from a mutual friend. It was arranged that I was to go to Tony's house to interview him - quite the experience! Turning up to his house and having to be buzzed in through the gate, before interviewing him in his kitchen whilst his wife made me a cup of tea, it was all pretty surreal! However, Tony couldn't have been more welcoming and helpful, giving me brilliant insight into his career in management whilst being invaluable for my upcoming article!

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Jimmy Glass

To some, especially of the Carlisle-persuasion, Jimmy Glass is a legend. Jimmy is most famous for scoring a last-minute winner for Carlisle, despite being a goalkeeper, to keep them in the football league. Jimmy has seen it all over his years in football, recently leaving his role as player liaison officer at AFC Bournemouth to become Wimborne Town FC's general manager. Jimmy is uniquely placed to give brilliant insight to life overseeing a club as a whole, including a recent revamp of the clubs academy system. As someone who works closely with Jimmy on a day-to-day basis, it was clear to me that his input would be vital for this project, to give it a different perspective.

 

Josh Carmichael

It was important to get the perspective of a player who has been through the system, but unfortunately come out on the wrong side of it. After being in AFC Bournemouth's academy since the age of 11, Josh made his first team debut at 17 years old, making a hand full of appearances. However, after a change of manager and the club on the rise, Josh found opportunities hard to come by, before being released at 21 years old. After failing to secure another professional club, Josh has carved out an impressive non-league career, alongside having to create a career in the work place with very limited experience and higher-level education thanks to his time spent in academy football. Josh's story is inspiring and one well worth telling, adding some real colour and a real-life example of why more may need to be done.

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Jonny Stuttle

Jonny is 18 years old and a bright star in AFC Bournemouth's Development Squad, being the academy sides main striker. It's all well and good creating a story with interviews from management, to board, to ex-academy level, but it's crucial to have the thoughts and views of someone who is currently in the academy system. Jonny sees what goes on day-to-day at Premier League club and is hoping to make his first team debut. What does he think of the system? Does he have a backup plan should it all go wrong?

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Update?

All interviews have been conducted, transcribed and the article is fully in the works of production. With the article due for release in late December, stay up to date with all the going-ons through my social platforms, @kyranssports, with regular updates and video content from my interviewees!