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Issue 12 - August 2010 News from League Football Education Touchline In this issue: Assessment Trials | Club Profile - Millwall FC | Pre-season Tours
Burgin Happy with New Start
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Got a story? Want to share news with other LFE partners? EMAIL news email: [email protected] PHONE Stakeholder Feedback Youth Alliance & Youth Alliance Honours The feedback we receive is vital in enabling 2009-10 Season LFE would like LFE to make judgements about the quality of Academy League provision and the continuous improvement North West Conference to thank all Winners Preston North End stakeholders for of the ASE programme. Round-Up Runners-Up Rochdale The results from feedback provided last North East Conference their continued season was very positive and response rate Congratulations go to Queens Park Rangers who took Winners Hull City for the most recent questionnaire, On & Off home the silverware in the Youth Alliance Cup (2009-10). Runners-Up York City feedback from the Job Training & Communications,
The final at Loftus Road provided nail-biting action as QPR atoned South West Conference questionnaires was over 70%. Winners Swindon Town for last season’s heartbreak by coming back from the brink against 97% of Apprentices gave an overall score Runners-Up Bristol Rovers ten-man Stockport County to be crowned champions winning 4-3. throughout the of ‘good or better’ for the Apprenticeship At the same stage of the Cup twelve months ago, QPR let victory slip South East Conference programme and 100% of Club staff scored season. through their fingertips by slumping to a 2-1 defeat to Grimsby Town. Winners Millwall the same question as ‘good or better’. But Rangers came back from 3-1 down to clinch their first ever victory Runners-Up Brighton & Hove Albion
Leonardo Life in the competition. Long Learning Programme In the Academy League Leicester City took the title in Group B with European Tour
an exceptional unbeaten run throughout the season, winning 22 and Leonardo Life Long Learning Programme Leonardo Funding European Tour drawing only 6 games to finish an impressive 16 points clear of second placed Tottenham. Certificate of In Group D Nottingham Forest edged past Sunderland to finish in 1st Completion place after an eventful season. A win over Leicester City in the Academy LFE has successfully been awarded and techniques. Being part of an environment Certificate ofAdam Mekki Congratulations on the successful completion of your 2010 Leonardo Mobi League Play-Off semi finals, meant Forest faced Arsenal in the final but where the values of conditioning, psychology, We hope that the tour has enhanced your experience of the ASE progr developed your social and cultural understanding of Europe, ex lity project. Completionof the possibilities that lie within it. funding for next season from the amme, as well as panding your appreciation the Reds were beaten 5-3 despite an early goal from Danny Elliot. speed and technique are paramount will also Certified by: European Commission’s Lifelong Learning Mobility project. Adam Mekki as well as Alan D Sykes, Chief Executive, LFE ompletion of your 2010 Leonardo our appreciation our experience of the ASE programme, Congratulations on the successful c provide immense value to all involved. understanding of Europe, expanding y With the season almost upon us teams are now busily putting the final We hope that the tour has enhancedt. y developed your social and cultural Programme. of the possibilities that lie within i LFE is a partnership between The Football League Certified by: and The Professional touches to their preparations ahead of the big kick-off on 14th August. Those involved in the projects will also be given Footballers’ Association.
This will allow LFE to offer Clubs and Apprentices Alan D Sykes, Chief Executive, LFE LFE is a partnership between The Football League and The Professionalociation. the chance to experience social and cultural Footballers’ Ass two different opportunities: an on-programme practices within a European setting which is also Pre-Season Tour and an off-programme Player key to widening the horizon of opportunity that Placement programme. is open to them. Both opportunities provide a fantastic chance for Turn to page 12 for this year’s Pre-Season Tour feature, Apprentices to experience European training facilities and page 17 for to see Thomas Burgin talk about life in Sweden. 2 3 WEB
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Got a story? Want to share news with other LFE partners? EMAIL news email: [email protected] PHONE England U17’s & U19’s Goals from Andre Wilson (Liverpool) and Connor Unfortunately for Blake and an England team Wickham (Ipswich Town) proved enough to see containing Declan Rudd (Norwich City) and Video Analysis Software Training off Spain 2-1 in the final in Vaduz, Liechtenstein. Nathaniel Clyne (Crystal Palace) that was where In an absorbing match the young Lions came the journey ended. Their dreams of becoming LFE & E-Scout recently teamed to improve performance fall into LFE’s drive will definitely add value to the programme.” from behind to deny their Spanish counterparts European Champions dashed by an impressive up to support training to help Clubs adopt and explore new ways Also at the event, Bradford City Head of Youth, who were being watched in the stands by their Spain team, whose opening goal in the 3-1 of applying technology within delivery of the David Wetherall added: full squad. defeat of the Lions, came ironically from a player sessions for Club staff on ASE programme. “The day’s been very beneficial, it’s is a great based in England, Liverpool’s Daniel Pacheco. The highly-rated Wickham sealed victory early video performance analysis. Speaking after a training day at LFE HQ at the tool for us as a Youth department and especially in the second half with a sweet finish after a But despite the defeat Head Coach Noel Blake LFE & E-Scout recently teamed up to support end of June, Mark Jules from Chesterfield said: for the players. What I like about video analysis powerful run. Middlsbrough Apprentice Bruno insisted it was not all doom and gloom, he said: training sessions for Club staff on video “I found the day very informative and very is it takes opinion out of it – looking back on Pilatos and West Bromwich Albion youngster “We came here with a couple of objectives, performance analysis. This came after LFE interesting. We’re always looking for other the video it’s there for all to see, it’s fact, it’s not George Thorne also played their parts as the Lions firstly to get to the World Cup Finals and we’ve had received the backing of its board learning tools and ways to improve the players so opinion anymore and that can only help with secured their first age-group title since 1993. achieved that and then to get out of the group (The Football League & The Professional this is ideal in terms of a learning process and it player development.” England’s U19’s could not emulate the stages and we’ve achieved that. Footballers’ Association) to supply all clubs Congratulations achievements of their younger counterparts “Another one was to go all the way, we’ve engaging on ASE with performance analysis after falling 3-1 to Spain in the semi-finals of just fallen a bit short but to finish in the last equipment & software. go to the England the European U19 Championships. four of any major tournament is credible. Having originally secured Learning Innovation Under-17 squad The U19’s had hoped to go one better than last “When this campaign began, there were Grant funding to account for equipment for year when they reached the final only to fall at 52 nations involved and we made the last four, just over 30 football clubs, LFE obtained board after they went in to the final hurdle to a strong Ukraine side. so that’s something to be celebrating.” approval to source equipment for all club’s when the history books in After a 3-2 win in their opening group game it became known just how great the demand for against Austria, a 0-1 reverse in the penultimate the equipment was.
becoming the first group fixture against Holland left the Young The resources which allow Club staff and
Action Images/ITFC Lions with it all to do against host nation France Apprentices to break down matches and training English team to lift who had hit nine in their first two matches. the UEFA European And with the French leading 1-0 it looked curtains for England until Wycombe’s Matt U17 Championship Phillips popped up with an injury time equaliser Trophy. to send Noel Blake’s men through to the semi-finals as group runners up.
4 5 Tommy Smith Smith’s summer in South Africa Action Images/ITFC
“I’m proud to have represented While most players were spending their summers on a beach or New Zealand on the world stage simply recharging their batteries in preparation for pre-season though and to training Ipswich Town’s Tommy Smith was doing battle with have remained some of the World’s best at the World Cup in South Africa. unbeaten in the competition.
Now 20, Smith graduated from the Tractor “I’m proud to have represented New A student on and off the pitch (Smith got Boys Apprenticeship programme two Zealand on the world stage though straight Distinctions on his BTEC National ” summers ago and is hoping that his World and to have remained unbeaten in the Diploma) Smith is now hoping his summer Cup exploits can help him pin down a spot competition. school at the World Cup can help him in Roy Keane’s first team next season. “I think what we achieved will be massive further his Ipswich career, he added: The Kiwis drew all three of their group boost for the sport in New Zealand. games in South Africa but despite losing Football has forever been a long way “For me personally, I think out on a spot in the last 16, Smith was behind rugby in the popularity stakes but playing in the World Cup pleased by his efforts for the All Whites. with us doing reasonably well, the whole has improved me as a “Playing in the World Cup has been a country has stood up and taken notice of player and I hope that will great experience. I’ve got mixed emotions the sport. about it because I’m disappointed that we “More and more kids are taking up help me to establish myself didn’t take that extra step and get into football and that can only be good for the in the Ipswich side.” 6 the next round. development of the game in New Zealand”. 7 Assessment Trials There’s a lot of Clubs watching so hopefully someone will see something in you and take you onboard Second Chance Shane Cusack (Ex Colchester Utd) LFE’s Assessment Trials have once again proved to be a hit with players and scouts and that’s official.
A record 270 players and 140 scouts attended this year’s With the intensity and skill levels replicated at the three trials - held at Adams Park, The Banks’ Stadium, Valley remaining venues, scouts were left drooling by the Parade and MMU Cheshire. And with over 70 per cent quality of the product and were keen to register their of players attending attracting scout interest the statistics interest early in the players that had caught their eye. Wallsall speak for themselves. Speaking after the final event at MMU, LFE Chief trials Featured by Sky Sports News amongst others, the trials Executive Alan Sykes insists the trials are going from kicked-off as the sun set on Wycombe’s home ground strength to strength. but the football on show soon illuminated proceedings “The amount of interest in players attending this in front of the on-looking scouts, camera’s and year’s trials is a testimony to the quality of the players I know that I am good enough to be a photographers. completing the Apprenticeship programme. It is a professional footballer, it’s just getting With players eager to impress, the games were played fantastic source of talent for scouts, while for the players at high tempo fused with technical quality and skill it is a second chance to succeed in the game or move that break – it didn’t work out at Charlton which was complimented by a unique competitive on to play a good standard of football while continuing but hopefully it’ll work out elsewhere. edge that was noticeable to all in attendance. their education in the UK or abroad.” Liam Bellamy (Ex Charlton Athletic)
The standard was top class - the quality was good and that Bradford competitive element trials was really good to see. Bringing players like this to We still think at this our university gives age that you can still WEB us creditability – sign players that you’re talking about might not be what PERSON other Clubs want but ex players who have you can develop and BLOG played at an elite bring through the
twitter.com/LFEonlineTWITTER level. system
WEB Mark Stow (Watford) www.lfe.org.uk/progression/trialsVIDEO Nigel Deeley 8 9 EMAIL (MMU) PERSON
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PHONE Club Profile - Millwall
Paul Robinson and or completed their Apprenticeships at other Football League Clubs – such as Mark Laird (an Apprentice
But they are expecting to equal last year’s at Northampton), Chris Hackett from Oxford record of 100% full ASE framework United and Lewis Grabban (ex Crystal achievements and positive destinations Palace) – and progressed up the pyramid A 3-0 victory at Southend United and for all of their graduating scholars. a surprise defeat for eventual runners- to Championship level. Star striker Steve “Orpington College have done an excellent up Brighton and Hove Albion in the Morison was released by Northampton job delivering the BTEC element of the penultimate league fixture clinched the Town and worked his way back up programme and this year they are providing title for Millwall, with the added bonus for via Bishop’s Stortford and Stevenage, all the education for Millwall,” explained the Lion’s Roaring Fitzgerald of being able to blood several of while Club legend Neil Harris made his Club’s RO Gavin Willacy. “Mark Hammond, his Under-16 players in the last few games. breakthrough with non-League Cambridge the tutor at Orpington, has produced great Defender Jake Goodman, midfielders Luke City. So there is hope for everyone! The spring of 2010 was about as good as it gets for results and I’m sure this year will be no WEB Success Kingsmill and Dylan Richards and striker different given the calibre of student he has Millwall FC. Either side of the first team winning the one re-training at college, another hoping to go Aiden O’Brien were among the incoming to work with. Mark’s been well mentored by www.millwallfc.co.uk PERSON play-off final at Wembley to reach the Championship, the to university, one considering a scholarship in the Apprentices to get opportunities at the end the vastly experienced Joe Francis, and they youth team won the South East Division of the Football United States and the fourth coaching and having of last season. work very closely with Scott at the Club.” BLOG League Youth Alliance and seven of the eleven graduates trials for a League Two Club. All in all not a bad crop With only six Apprentices now starting for youth team boss Scott Fitzgerald to produce. While Millwall’s promotion has enabled from the ASE programme signed professional contracts. their second year, there will be a new look TWITTER them to increase the number of staff Strangely, not all of those were at Millwall. “We had eleven second years here which is a large about the Lions this season and their league working in their youth system, it will make Centre-back Chris Hegarty and his Northern number for any Club but the lads were phenomenal triumph will be hard to match. VIDEO graduating to the first team more difficult. Ireland international team-mate goalkeeper Wayne in terms of their character and attitude everyday in However, Kenny Jackett’s squad is filled with Drummond, both joined Scottish giants Rangers, the Club. They had a great attitude for the game EMAIL players who have either come through the while left-back Danny Fitzsimmons joined London and deserved the success they got last year. It was youth ranks at Millwall, such as Alan Dunne, PHONE rivals QPR and central midfielder Kemil Tevfik joined disappointing that we couldn’t take more on as his Turkey Under-18 colleagues in Turkey’s top flight professional’s here but it does show that if you work when he moved to Supa Lig side Bucaspor, who are hard and make a success of your Apprenticeship you
based in Izmir. can go on to play at other Clubs or move in new career directions”. Three others: strikers John Marquis and Kiernan Hughes-Mason plus midfielder Jimmy Rodgers, all signed pro forms for the Lions. The other four second-year Apprentices Danny Fitzsimons - Left-back were all pursuing other career paths:
Chris Hegarty - Centre-back Kiernan Hughes - Striker Jimmy Rogers - Midfielder John Marquis - Striker Wayne Drummond - Goalkeeper
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Goes EMAIL LFE TWITTER After last year’s successful pre-season PHONE VIDEO tour to Sweden LFE teamed up with three top Dutch Clubs for this season’s EMAIL
tour with Apprentices from Aldershot PHONE Town, Crystal Palace and Huddersfield Dutch Town the beneficiaries. “The thing that impressed me the most, apart from the friendliness of the people, are the facilities. The tour which was designed to enhance the Clubs pre-season “Every amateur Club seems to have facilities that even some training regimes saw the Apprentices take up temporary of the professional Clubs in England don’t have. Feyenoord residence at Feyenoord, FC Utrecht, Vitesse Arnhem and the have access to about ten grass and four astro-turf pitches on KNVB facility close to Amsterdam. this site. They should never have to train on a poor surface.” Running from the 19th – 31st July players were given the Gary Issott, Crystal Palace, Youth Team Manager. opportunity to train at top class facilities and sample a different football and cultural environment. With specialist sessions “What a great experience all round – training with a coach being put on by the KNVB and fixtures between themselves like Rob Witschge (Ajax) was superb. The guy was Marco and Qatar U19 national team to add a competitive thrust the Van Basten’s assistant with the Dutch national team a few tour has been well received by players and Club staff. years ago and you can’t help but listen and learn when Dan Jolley, project manager at LFE, says: “This is the second someone like that is passing on their knowledge to you.“ year we’ve been awarded funds for our ‘Leonardo Life Long Adam Mekki, Aldershot Town, Apprentice.
Learning’ programme, which is very encouraging on two levels. Not only is it recognition that our objectives are strongly aligned with those of the European Commission’s Lifelong Learning Programme’s to exchange best practice between European nations, increase staff expertise and develop learners’ “The facilities, the food, the people have all been first class. skills, but it also allows us to support young English football Our first week at Vitesse was excellent, we got some really good talent and take the work we already do as an organisation to work in and that then prepared us for the games in the 2nd an even greater level. week which were over at the equally impressive KNVB facility. “53 of our Apprentices made the trip out to Holland and A tour like this adds a great deal of value to the programme the experience has been beneficial on a professional and we run and I’d like to thank LFE for putting this all together.” cultural level.” Graham Mitchell, Huddersfield Town, Academy Manager. 12 13 PFA PFA Coaching
If we can use the examples The Vuvuzelas have stopped blowing. of Messi, Kaka and the rest The La Furia Roja finished celebrating. to make that happen then so much the better”. Yet for the PFA Coaches who went the PFA Coaching Department Lessonsare always keen to try and do. For Jim Hicks Head of Coaching to the World Cup the memories are In a number of tasks on the at the PFA this kind of L2 Coaching course we can experience is invaluable: still vivid. use these experiences to show “We want to be at the cutting flows, the tactical switches Apprentices how it can improve edge of coach education. Yet for all the coaches the that can turn a match. You just them as coaches and players”. The world game is changing underlying reason for going can’t see that so easily on the at such a pace that we need Cup It’s a theme that Andy Barlow out was to broaden their own television”. to see at first hand these knowledge of the game as is happy to endorse: It’s precisely this kind of developments and consider Brian Borrows explains: “We hope the Apprentices knowledge and understanding how we are going to apply “It was fantastic to be given really enjoy our coaching that made the trip so them on our coaching courses Andy Barlow, Brian Borrows, the chance to get out to South courses but we also want worthwhile as Phil Church for the benefit of all”. Phil Church and Jamie Africa and see that talent them to go away with a real says; “This sort of information Robinson had the opportunity out on the pitch. But equally understanding of the game. is a priceless asset to have and of a lifetime out in South important was seeing the pre one that can really enhance a Africa. Seeing the talents of match warm up, the team coaching course. It’s something WEB Lionel Messi and Gonzalo shape as the game ebbs and Higuain, Kaka and Luis Fabiano Worldwww.givemefootball.com PERSON and Mesult Ozil and Thomas Muller captivate the crowds BLOG was a great experience.
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PHONE Development Fund Thomas Burgin Midnight Sun shining laptop on Burgin in Sweden Central Defender Thomas Burgin could’ve been forgiven The opportunity in this instance was with Swedish Division Two Club, for thinking he had been prematurely placed on the Sollefteå GIF and Burgin jumped at the chance, he recalls: WEB football scrap heap at the tender age of 18. Released by “It was really simple, I received an e-mail from LFE which was of Rotherham United last summer, the teenage defender interest, I followed it up and Sarah Stonehouse from LFE’s Progression funding was scraping a living as an odd job man, labourer, team did all the groundwork for me in terms of sorting out travel, PERSON construction worker, you name it he did it! expenses, accommodation etc. From the point of my e-mail it took Set up in 2006 over During the last 4 years Clubs have used the LFE will also expect Clubs with in-house Disillusioned with football the youngster initially had no intention of me no more than 4 weeks to get out there and while it took me fund in a variety of ways to enhance their provision to utilise the fund to fill any gaps WEB playing again - however slowly but surely his love of the game came some time to settle it’s all coming together now.” BLOG £850,000 has now programmes and the Apprentice Journey. in resources or equipment. Clubs should back and he was persuaded to turn out for local Central Midlands Hailed as a revelation by fans, he has not looked back since joining Expenditure has included laptops, video not commit to spending without prior League Club Sutton Town some seven divisions below League Two. Sollefteå in March and has been a key performer for the Club who cameras, performance analysis equipment, authorisation from LFE. been made available PERSONHaving rekindled some desire to play again, Burgin then received an now top the Swedish Second Division. While the youngster admits heart-rate monitors, smart boards, outward TWITTER Should you require any further help or e-mail from LFE that offered him the chance to make a new start in he would one day love to return to England, he is for now, happy to to football Clubs bound days, tours and even mini-buses. advice in relation to the Development Fund a new country. The correspondence of course related to LFE’s player concentrate on his football in Sweden, he said: BLOG through the LFE The Development Fund will once again be or have any ideas on how the scheme could VIDEO placement programme funded by Leonardo that aims to place in operation during the 2010/11 season be developed in future years please do not ex Apprentices and first year professionals with a Club in Europe development fund to but with new criteria which will include the hesitate to contact Alan Sykes : for period of 8-16 weeks. “I’m just going to enjoy my football here and see if I EMAIL provide Clubs with an need for Clubs to have laptops available TWITTER can help the Club gain promotion this year. We’re at for Apprentices. By the end of the 2010/11 the top of the table so I hope we can see the job in season the minimum requirement will be opportunity to invest 0870 458 9250 PHONEVIDEO hand through. I’ve already got a deal on the table for for all Clubs have acquired one laptop for me to stay at the Club next year but equally I’ve also in the delivery and every two Apprentices on programme. Name :had offers from teams in the next division up and the support of the ASE By the end of the 2011/12 season, Clubs [email protected] EMAIL one higher than that which is the equivalent to the will be expected to have obtained one Championship in England. programme. laptop for each Apprentice on programme. DOB : PHONE “I can’t thank LFE enough for helping me get out to Sweden it’s done me the world of good and definitely Contactbroadened my horizons. It’s helped me massively in League Football terms of rebuilding my confidence and the people over Addresshere are unbelievable, the town probably only has a Navigation Way population of 10,000 – 15,000 so you do tend to get Teams:recognised by people and well looked after. I can’t Preston remember signing this many autographs when I was in CurrentRotherham’s reserves anyway”. UK
16 Burgin Thomas 17 Joe Conkleton check out www.lfe.org.uk welcome to
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Find out what’s going on with MIAMIJoe Conkleton insists he has no regrets Spotted after taking part in LFE’s Assessment Progression 2010 Log in to your about football as he comes to the end Trials last year, Conkleton is now studying Virtual Learning of his first year at Barry University in for a degree in sport management with Environment Miami. The former Doncaster Rovers business but is keen to retain a link with Apprentice upped sticks from his the past: Derbyshire home last summer to head “Ideally I’d like to work in sport and I haven’t to the American city popularised by entirely ruled out coaching in the future fictional detectives Sonny Crockett and after my experiences at Doncaster and Rico Tubbs in the cult 1980’s TV show Watch LFE TV, clips why would I, I enjoyed my Apprenticeship Miami Vice. from Skills Skool and immensely. interviews And while he might not have adopted the “The highlight would definitely be meeting Italian suit jacket, white linen pants, slip-on so many new people, playing with and sockless loafers or yet be driving a Ferrari against good professional players and Daytona, Conkleton has settled in to a new doing something I love every single day; way of life and is confident that his career not many people can say that. Times change Stay up to date is travelling in the right direction. though and you move on, it’s great out with the LFE He said: “After the disappointment of bloggers here in Miami and in many ways I have leaving Doncaster this is the sort of life landed on my feet but I would urge anyone Read all the latest change that gives you an immediate lift. considering coming out to the States to news updates I’ve had a great first year here and am do plenty of research, you need to find a from LFE now looking forward to starting the new university and a course that fits for you, academic year and playing football once the if you do that you’ve got one hell of a season starts up again. Everyone here has back-up plan”. been great with me and I can’t stress how Flick through the fantastic this opportunity is.” back catalogue of Touchline
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