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Middlesbrough, Tranmere Rovers and “It’s great for the lads,” said Chester eld’s “It’s not just about football,” said Garnett. Chester eld have successfully secured Head of Coach Development Mark Jules. “The lads get the chance to go out and spend a place on LFE’s pre- tour of the “When I was a player I went on tours to a couple of weeks away from home in a new Netherlands next summer. Europe pretty much every year and you’re environment and sample a different culture The trio fought off intense competition able to learn from it and bring things back and lifestyle.” from 14 other Football League clubs after a that help your game.” LFE is also pleased to announce that Create Youth Alliance & rigorous application and selection process. While the chance to sample a different Your Legacy 2013 will be held on 20 March The tour, which will help the clubs prepare football culture is one attraction, Tranmere’s 2013 at St George’s Park, Burton – while the for the 2013-14 season, will see their youth- Head of Youth, Shaun Garnett believes the Assessment Trials will take place on 2 May teams pitted against top Dutch sides and for trip offers much more. and 7-9 May. win - with their only point coming from a draw with Port many it will be their rst experience of playing U18 LeagueVale in August.Update www.lfe.org.uk/progression continental opposition. At the time of writing Watford look set to hold the top In the Professional Development League (South) Charlton With the new spot over Christmas in the Youth Alliance South East with top the pile with seven victories from their nine games season well a seven point lead over Leyton Orient. The newcomers to so far, separated only by goal difference from Colchester the competition have made a fantastic start to the season United in second place. and racked up 30 goals to date. underway and Nottingham Forest and Leeds United head up the top of Goal of the Month the Christmas United, Hull City and Preston North End all top the Northern division with only goal difference separating their respective divisions by a whisker so the December Over 30,000 votes have been cast so far this With more and more spectacular strikes to break almost the two clubs. There is room for improvement from xtures will determine who sits at the summit over the season, with a record 17,000 recorded for choose from each month just selecting a Derby County and Brentford, with both yet to register upon us, it’s festive break. September. shortlist is dif cult enough. That’s why LFE is a win. an ideal time At the other end of the table spare a thought for Crawley Town’s Alex Laing won that contest for producing a festive feast of goals that contains Reading and Bolton Wanderers are racing ahead in their Tranmere in the North West. While Rovers have a ne his unstoppable 30-yard effort in a 2-2 draw every goal submitted to us during 2012. to re ect U18 group, with West Ham a distant tradition of producing youth players, including the half against Portsmouth. While Sullay Kaikai (Crystal The video will be released over the Christmas on the rst third some 13 points behind the leaders. dozen that currently inhabit Ronnie Moore’s high ying Palace) and Levander Pyke (Charlton Athletic) period on LFE’s website and Youtube. half of the rst-team - Shaun Garnett’s U18s have yet to pick up a have also been crowned monthly winners. www.lfe.org.uk LFEonlineTV campaign. 2 3 Got a story? Want to share news with other NEWS You Said: LFE partners? email: [email protected] news We Did

LFE has been awarded a near perfect score of 9.5 out of 10 by an independent survey commissioned by the Skills Fantasy Funding Agency. The FE Choices ‘Employer Satisfaction’ Development Manager Team Name Goals Assists Pts questionnaire was conducted by 1 Connor Johnson ivory toast 57 27 265 Ipsos Mori with club staff at the Football Update 2 Jake McCarthy Ivory Toast 51 26 261 end of last season. 3 Liam Triggs The 53 26 255 Feedback from stakeholders At the time of writing, is still a long way to go before May, has also judged a wide range of Fund 2012-13 Rotherham United’s Connor with £250, £150, £100 being offered 4 Joe Cracknell Dream team! 50 29 255 enrichment activities including Johnson leads the way in LFE’s as prizes for the top three placed 5 Matt Murphy FC Murph 49 24 255 Sporting Chance and If U Care Fantasy Football League which Apprentices. Share sessions as ‘Outstanding’. 6 Matt Carter The Hammers 45 28 251 sees Apprentices juggle their Put yourself back in the race and Meanwhile the task of appraising 7 Charlie Davis Helmet FC 44 27 249 resources to select their best review your team at: LFE’s performance in its own Championship XI’s. 8 Baily Cargill cargill 51 18 239 www.fantasy.football- Self-Assessment Report (SAR) Jake McCarthy (Bournemouth), Liam league.co.uk 9 James Randall The Untouchables 39 30 239 has been relatively easy this Triggs (Portsmouth) and Joe Cracknell year, after Ofsted’s glowing 10 Lewy Blackmore Dyslexia Untied 47 29 238 (Hull City) closely follow but there endorsement of the organisation in April. Her Majesty’s Inspectors graded LFE as ‘Outstanding’ across all areas of its provision, so it was no surprise to see these judgements replicated in the SAR after feedback from staff, Mike Johnson Former Accrington Stanley Apprentice Ryan Hopper clubs, Apprentices and education has been named as the winner of the Mike Johnson providers. Award Winner To read summaries of all available ‘Come and get it’, that’s the message from LFE For more information or ideas of how to spend Memorial Award. reports or for more information Chief Executive Alan Sykes to clubs in relation your allocation of funding please visit the LFE please visit: to the 2012-13 Development Fund. website where a dedicated area has been set Hopper, who made four rst-team appearances for www.lfe.org.uk/apprentice- “Clubs can now submit their requests to claim up to offer guidance on claims and provide Stanley was also LFE’s Apprentice of the Month in info/you-said-we-did for a variety of resources or equipment to downloadable forms: March. He signed a professional deal at the Crown improve the Apprenticeship programme,” Ground in May but has since been released. www.lfe.org.uk/about Sykes told Touchline. /development-fund This award recognises his contribution off the pitch “I would urge all clubs to make applications and in particular on the NVQ Level 3 Diploma in If you need any further help or advice in as soon as possible and not to wait to the last Achieving Excellence in Sports Performance. relation to the Development Fund or have any minute. In the past video analysis software, ideas on how the scheme could be developed Hopper who received an engraved glass trophy video cameras, team building days and tness in future years please do not hesitate to contact and £250 cheque prize, said: “Hours and hours of equipment have been popular choices,” Alan Sykes at: hard-work go into the NVQ so it’s nice to know I’ve he continued. been rewarded for going that extra yard and that my [email protected] efforts have been recognised.”

4 5 E N O INS PPP UPDAT PPP E IM HOPK IM Making an Impact T

Four months into the new season, The Under 18 Professional Development like tness, strength and conditioning, it’s time for Touchline to assess League (North or South) is a mixture of physiotherapy, skills and player education STATE what impact the Elite Player clubs that have dropped down from the bolstered. old Academy League and those that have Performance Plan (EPPP) is having In the top tier clubs can have over 30 staff cranked up their academy arrangements by in their academies. on our clubs. investing more money in better facilities and The EPPP has seen all Academies and increased staf ng levels. Barnet, Brentford, Facilities: Centres of Excellence effectively reorganised Brighton & Hove Albion, Colchester Utd, As well as nding space to house all the into four groupings. Each club was then Millwall et al - all t that bill. extra staff now required, many clubs have SIDE tasked with making their own application Category 3 and 4 clubs compete in the built new of ces, classrooms, IT areas and to join the category that best suited their Football League Youth Alliance which added to their training facilities with, for nancial, sporting and staf ng situations. contains 52 clubs across four divisions. example, all weather pitches. SO WHAT’S HAPPENED? Crawley, Yeovil, and new boys Fleetwood Education: The Games Programme: and Morecambe are the only sides in Category 4. Apprentices at a Category 1 club are likely SUCCESS While the majority of clubs continue to to integrate 10 hours of education with 14 play at the same level as they were prior Stafng: hours of full time football training. Some to the new infrastructure there have been Almost every club has had to increase even teach normal school lessons in on-site Named National Player of the Week and the “As long as the team wins several changes. staf ng. Take Category 3 Clubs – last season classrooms. CAA Player of the Week, Most Valuable Player that’s all I’m bothered about - The reformation of the FA Premier Academy 3 employees would have been the norm In the bottom two categories 12 hours at the STIHL Soccer Classic Tournament and individual accolades are nice League has seen the creation of the Under whereas this year they are required to have of football development is mixed with with a goal ratio that is better than one in two but it’s a team game.” games, former Nottingham Forest Apprentice 18 Premier League which consists of 22 at least 5 full-time members of staff. academic work. Based in Virginia, on the East coast a seven Tim Hopkinson is making a name for himself at clubs. Most are from the top ight but At the next level up clubs like Derby have hour drive away from New York and three from Old Dominion University in the USA. several are from the Championship. around 12-15 full-time staff now, with areas Washington DC, Hopkinson admits he is often The Nottingham born forward went out to asked what made him choose to take up his the States in the summer of 2010 after enlisting scholarship at ODU. A typical week for a category 1 & 3 club: the services of a Sports Scholarship agency “I had a few options and a lot of people ask and while the Monarchs season has just ended, why I came here but it’s really simple. I spoke CATEGORY 1 CLUB CATEGORY 3 CLUB Hopkinson’s performances have left a lasting to Coach (Alan) Dawson and he made me feel Monday AM Match analysis session & training Monday AM Team training session impression. really wanted and made me feel that I’d be PM College lessons PM NVQ session eg.match analysis Six goals in his rst three appearances this welcomed. He told me out here your team- Tuesday AM Team training session Tuesday AM Team training session term including one, in front of a 6,848 crowd mates are like a family, like brothers everyone PM Gym work & NVQ session e.g. Nutrition PM Position speci c training at Creighton University set the tone and while looks out for each other and that sold the Wednesday AM Position speci c training Wednesday AM College lessons he was unable to maintain that strike rate he place to me. has earned himself a reputation as one of the PM College lessons PM College lessons “The student lifestyle is great. I even enjoy hottest properties in the country with 10 goals Thursday AM Team training & core strength sessions Thursday AM Team training session cooking my own food and doing all that sort and ve assists from 17 games. PM College lessons PM College lessons of stuff. We all support all our friends on all Friday AM Match preparation & Psychology sessions Friday AM Match preparation sessions “I’ve got great team-mates around me and the other sports teams and it’s a real family I’m just putting the ball in the net after PM Flexibility & agility session PM Rest time atmosphere which is amazing when you everyone else has done the hard-work,” Saturday AM U18 Premier League xture Saturday AM U18 Youth Alliance match consider the student population is something said Hopkinson recently. like twenty odd thousand.” PM Watch rst-team match (if at home) PM Watch rst-team match (if at home) Sunday AM Recovery session Sunday AM Day off 6 PM Free time PM Day off 7 January February April May ES CTUR I P IN 2012

Marvin Sordell moves to Bolton.

Crewe Alexandra’s Nick Powell (left) celebrates scoring his LFE is hailed as ‘Outstanding by side’s rst goal in their League Ofsted’ with sessions like this Mike Johnson Award Winner Two Play Off Final victory over one at Accrington deemed an Notts County’s U18s paid tribute to those that reach the The FA Youth Cup semi- nal Wolves Defender Danny Batth made a donation Cheltenham at Wembley. area of strength. lost their lives at the Battle of the Somme and but their hopes of winning the trophy for the rst picked up Young Player of the to help his former Darlington their own Jim King. time since 1968 are ended by their neighbours Year at the inaugural Asian team-mates in their hour Blackburn who go through 3-1 on aggregate. Football Awards (AFA). Jonny Howson heads to Norwich. of need. Assessment A year in pictures - 2012 Trials 2012

March Assessment Trials provided the perfect opportunity for released players to showcase their talents. The Football Create Your League Legacy 2012 Awards 2012 June

Apprentice of the Year - League 1 : Jordan Cousins.

Apprentice of the Year - Championship : Gael Bigirimana. Apprentice of the Year - Shef eld Wednesday’s Jarrod Kyle wins Goal of the Season! 8 League 2 : Nick Powell. 9

Some images courtesy of P.A. July September November ES CTUR I P

Leonardo London Friendly IN

Pre Season 2012 2012

Tour Crawley Town Apprentice Ryan Richefond volunteered for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Cheltenham Town with Steve McLaren.

This Derby defender has a culture clash. Positive Mental attitude: Trained Brain’s Jamie Edwards starts his visits to Football Ryan Hopper won the League clubs. Mike Johnson Award. Tour de Netherlands. Oldham Athletic at Liberty Park. October Wilfried Zaha & Carl Jenkinson make their Burnley’s Cameron Howieson was in action at England debuts against Sweden. Both are the games in the Mens Football competition for recent ASE graduates. Cheltenham and VFL Osnabruck teams lining-up. New Zealand.

LFE’s Paul Urwin completes August the Alcatraz Swim to raise funds for the If U Care Share Foundation. Brentford’s Myles Hippolyte looks to nd a Summer Youth MarkFuller D /obfcp.co.uk ©2012 way past Barnet’s Kamal Guthmy in The FA Transfers Alliance Youth Cup.

Nick Powell starts to settle in to life at after a Gael Bigirimana was The season kicked-off in the U18 Meanwhile Doncaster Rovers start with a Jacob Butter eld Exeter City’s on loan summer move to Jay Rodriguez rewarded with a £1m Premier League, Professional win at the Keepmoat. made a move winger Jake Gosling helps United from . made a £6m switch move to Newcastle development Leagues and from to Dorchester knock Plymouth from Burnley to from Coventry. The Youth Alliance. Norwich City. Argyle out of the FA Cup. 10 Southampton. 11

Some images courtesy of P.A. D N COTLA TheSPL’s S IN G EnglishRush IN LAY P Northof Clubs Number of Englishmen Aberdeen 3

Celtic 4

Dundee 3

Dundee Utd 1 theBorder Hearts 2 In the 1970s a wealth of talent moved between Scotland and England. being involved in several squads last term he was Hibs 2 pleased not to be given too long to dwell on Dozens came South with the likes of , , Inverness Caledonian Thistle 7 Alan Hansen, and representing some the prospect of nally making his senior bow. of English football’s biggest clubs. “I found out I was starting two and a half Kilmarnock 6 hours before the game and I think that Others including the likes of England or the dozen or so Eire or Northern Ireland was a good thing for me,” said Hegarty. Motherwell 8 Internationals Trevor Steven, Gary Stevens, Chris internationals that began life in England. “I would have been nervous if I’d been told Ross County 1 Woods, Terry Butcher and were Another startling statistic is that Clubs north the day before so it wasn’t a bad thing.” lured to the (SPL) during of the border have, in the last three years, signed St Johnstone 1 the 80s by the prospect of European football. “I felt my performance was solid. The main at least twenty- ve players who embarked on thing was keeping a clean sheet and we did St Mirren 1 (Between 1985 – 1990, English clubs were Apprenticeships at Football League Clubs. Not that. It was hard but that was the main thing banned from European competition in the wake all are still under contract but plenty remain. for me.” of the Heysel disaster). Kelly, released as an 18-year-old by MK Dons, Total 39 The 20-year-old was the rst player to sign for More recently the likes of and is the one of the major successes. Instrumental in Kilmarnock’s League Cup success earlier this Rangers after the club was consigned to liquidation Welshman have enjoyed in the summer. The youngster’s previous Ibrox successful spells at Celtic whose current keeper year he counts former Tranmere right-back Alex Pursehouse as a team-mate. contract had expired and he penned a new also hails from Hexham. one-year deal with the newco in June. And while the exodus of players moving from Matthews meanwhile recently earned plaudits for his handling of Lionel Messi in Celtic’s “The main reason I’m still here is that I’m a Scotland to the highest echelons of the English Rangers fan and I wanted to game seems to have slowed there is evidence famous Champions League victory over Barcelona. stay at the club and help that the footfall moving the other way is higher them win whatever they than ever before - with around forty English While another making a name for himself and can and do my bit. players plying their trade in the SPL alone. hoping to help his boyhood team climb the Scottish pyramid is Rangers defender Chris “The lads want it more That number doesn’t include Mans eld born than ever, just to prove or Liam Kelly who hails from Hegarty, two years after being told he was no longer wanted at Millwall. a point to everyone. Milton Keynes – both Scotland internationals. Everyone wants to win. Nor does it take into account , The Northern Irish Under 21 made his long or Josh Magennis who started awaited Gers debut in August in a 1-0 win over “Training is positive. Everything their careers in the Championship at Falkirk in the Ramsdens Cup. However after is positive now. We’ve got over what’s happened to the club.”

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Image courtesy of P.A. KO EN R E D E F E LUK GETTING BACK Former Barnsley youngster Luke Fedorenko “I’ve got a friend who is at University and has taken his time but he is now getting back he pays out close to £9,000 a year and ON TRACK“From my perspective the dream of playing on track after starting a BSc (Hons) Exercise that’s just in tuition fees!” he continued. professionally is over. I have to look forward and Sport Science degree at Manchester “I’ve probably taken it to heart about why and work hard to try to make a good career “The lads who’ve come on this course Metropolitan University in October. my football hasn’t really worked out and I’ve for myself in coaching. I’ve already got my B pay nothing like that because of The PFA. probably spent too long dwelling on things For someone like me that is no longer ‘Feds’ as he known to his friends - left License and maybe I could help other players that really I needed to put behind me - so I playing with a professional club or say has in the summer of 2008 and until to not make the same mistakes I made.” could move on.” the money that the lads in Championship recently could’ve been described as a non- “The good thing is that by doing or Premier League earn, the funding is league missionary, drifting from one club to Moving on he is. With a UEFA B License already under his belt as well as a coaching this qualification it gives me unbelievable. It helps me and my parents the next (seven in four years) while hoping to options. Route one is completing out massively. earn a reprieve to the full-time game. role at Shef eld United’s Academy, he was convinced that his next step should the degree and doing my A “I don’t think I’d be able to afford to do It’s been a long road and a far cry from when be into Higher Education to take on the license and trying to work up the course without it.” he was rumoured to have attracted the challenge of a course that covers physiology, interest of several Premier League clubs during the coaching ladder. The other biomechanics and psychology and the impact www.lfe.org.uk/progression some eye catching FA Youth Cup displays. would be to look at a PGCE with these disciplines have on sports performance, a view to going into teaching. Nor has the semi-pro game provided him with health and well-being. www.thepfa.com/education the audience or environment for his trickery Fedorenko, who is one of around twenty ex and ball control to be as appreciated as they “I’d been doing bits of coaching or current players on the distance learning were when he starred on Soccer AM’s ‘Skill and the penny dropped. course at MMU is already looking forward to Skool’ as an 18-year-old. I realised I needed to start doing a week’s residential study at the end of the “I’ve found it hard really after having quite something with my life and year, however, he admits that he might not have even started but for the support of high expectations of myself,” said Fedorenko getting some extra qualifications The Professional Footballers Association: whose attitude was questioned by the Tykes under my belt. coaching staff shortly before he was released.

Federenko isn’t on his own in required A Level qualifications or deciding that a University education BTEC top-ups for future HE study. could help his prospects. 30 of last That’s not to mention the 24 lads year’s second year Apprentices who are continuing their studies via Higher Education (UK) Higher Education (USA) Further Education started UK degree courses this ‘soccer scholarships’ at American 2010 40 21 12 Autumn, while over a dozen leavers Universities or Colleges. went back to college to gain the 2011 42 23 10 2012 30 24 15

14 15 E AGU LE 21 U

Fancy makingSTEPPING the step up from Palace’s rst points of the campaign came reporters as made his long awaited Competition rules state that sides are ableUP to The aim is to move back towards traditional Under-18 football to play against with a 4-1 success at Fulham. Arsenal comeback alongside . eld three out eld players over the age of 21, reserve-team football of 15-20 years ago to while the goalkeeper can be any age but the make it a step closer to the rst-team. world-class internationals in your Only weeks after starting their Apprenticeships In November, West Ham second year, Frazer Hiram Boateng, Reise Allassani and Sullay Shaw was in the Hammers side that put two biggest change from last year is that more Barnet’s Apprentices had never played next game? Kai-Kai formed the Palace front-line for a Bank goals past Poland keeper Wojciech Szczesny clubs now have a weekly xture. anywhere like before they beat That’s what lots of Apprentices have done so Holiday xture with at Selhurst Park. as they beat Arsenal. Last season, only 28 clubs on LFE’s programme Millwall. Playmaker Solly March enjoyed the far this season after the Elite Player Performance While the game might have resulted in a 3-1 While the formation of the U21 Premier League played in a reserve league with many getting open spaces of in a Man of the Plan’s (EPPP) summer re-hash of youth home defeat, valuable lessons were learned that has its detractors - with many keen to point by on the odd midweek friendly and periodic Match display for Brighton at Charlton while development. Category One and Two clubs day from going toe-to-toe with occasional Reds out that the likes of Josh McEachran (Chelsea) county cup matches. Now there are 46. defender Harry Lennon was part of an Addicks now compete in the U21 Premier or Professional rst-team defenders Jon Flanagan and Andre and (West Ham) are being In 2011-12, not one Barnet youth-teamer XI that beat at the . Development Leagues (PDL North & South). Wisdom. It certainly did Allassani no harm as battle hardened in the erce arena that is the tested himself in a competitive match against With clubs using evening kick-offs Eight clubs who have LFE Apprentices are in he went on to be selected for England U17’s Championship, it is providing opportunities to professional opponents. Already this season, as a way to replicate the rst- Category One and that means U21 matches Autumn Euro 2013 quali ers. talented young players who were Apprentices the aspirant club has played Millwall, QPR, against some of the biggest clubs in Europe. team experience – youngsters are In late September, the trio were at it again this just six months ago. Brighton and most recently Charlton, where being put under the oodlights Whether clubs call their second string the time against Ivory Coast star and former Arsenal The Middlesbrough U21 side that won at Chelsea Zach Khlaf, aged 16, had a central mid eld Under-21s, Development Squad or Reserves, captain Kolo Toure as they played out a 1-1 and narrowly lost to Liverpool was almost tussle with 27-year-old Danny Hollands, and in front of paying spectators. Apprentices are being thrown in at the deep- draw with Manchester City. The Palace line-up exclusively made up of former Apprentices, while a veteran of over 250 senior appearances! The South derby between Cardiff and end and gaining some great experiences. included rst-year professionals Aaron Akuruka, an unused sub on the Reds bench, Jordan Ibe, As part of the EPPP, U21 matches are also Swansea attracted over 1,000 fans to the Most games have gone in favour of the biggest Alex Wynter and Kadell Daniel while several went on LFE’s pre-season tour to Holland in 2011 played as close to a Saturday afternoon as on a wet Tuesday night clubs, but there have been some upsets. During Apprentices were on the bench. as an Under 16 with Wycombe Wanderers. possible – any time from Friday night to recently while over 1,500 watched Palace take on Liverpool in August. a ne start to their campaign, West Ham beat As the Autumn leaves continued to fall, second It’s a similar story in the PDL, which is for the 23 Monday afternoon seems the norm – Arsenal 4-1, Middlesbrough shocked Chelsea year Reading Apprentice Aaron Tshibola Category Two clubs, all but two of which (QPR with some having to take place at a club’s A new dawn? Maybe. But only time will tell what 3-1 in London, while also in the capital Crystal appeared in front of the cameras and droves of and Wigan) have LFE Apprentices in their ranks. main ground. impact it has on the next generation of players. 16 17

S E ARD HAR S W Call it want you want, realisation, E D E understanding or self awareness - MIE

but it is one of the most crucial skills CAR U F JA DIFFERENT I you’ll need if you want to ful l your THINKING football dreams, says Jamie Edwards. This season I’ve seen over 200 players at 14 stopping you from being great? How do you per cent in training. Yet former England and clubs. The purpose on each visit was to have get better? Manchester United defender talks conversations with people and footballers. One thing that really struck me through this openly about how he and the likes of David I don’t aim to preach about what’s right or process has been the number of times I’ve Beckham, and upped wrong. I’m genuinely interested to hear what had to ask coaches to leave the room because the tempo in training and practiced for hours 16-18 year-old footballers perceive their of the reluctance of players to speak out in after sessions had nished, to make the most greatest challenges to be. front of those that are put in place to help of their talent. You’ll notice I used the word ‘conversations’ them ful l their potential. Yet so few seemed Those afraid of standing out or being different earlier. That’s because my sessions are about willing or able to discuss their apprehensions, from others by doing more shouldn’t. It’s a speaking, listening and getting a two way expectations or pressures. real paradox because you can’t be exactly the dialogue going. As part of the sessions I often ask Apprentices same as your team-mate and stand-out. Most conversations in life happen when they to tell me what attributes are required to Will you distinguish yourself by just doing shouldn’t. Think of the player who has been make a top player. The answers are almost enough to get by? What level do you need left out of the team that chats to his friends in always the same. After two or three technical to be at in training? If you’re not giving close It’s Okay To Not Be Okay... the stand on a match-day about his omission. attributes players start to cite qualities like to one hundred per cent, why is that? If Is that the right place for that discussion? desire, motivation, passion and hard-work – you haven’t got the desire to participate in ...is the message that If U Care Share But perhaps more importantly, the continuing recent sponsored swim is greatly appreciated Good performance and more importantly yet when I ask them what they are doing to a session on shape but can get up for small has spread to Apprentices at Football wellbeing of Apprentices is critical to all those because it provides invaluable funds towards improvements that can take players up a improve in these areas some nd it dif cult sided games do you really think that will have League clubs up and down the land. involved on the ASE programme. our campaign.” to respond. a positive effect on your game? level only happen if people have courageous The charity which is run by husband and wife “We are extremely grateful to LFE for giving Urwin, who took 40 minutes to complete conversations and are brutally honest, not just I’m not talking about what the club or parents I wanted to put on sessions that make people team Dean and Shirley Smith, has visited 38 us the opportunity to work with so many clubs the mile and a half swim, left the shores of with others but with themselves. do but what they themselves think they need think – can I do something differently to clubs since striking up a partnership with LFE and the feedback so far has been extremely Alcatraz and headed for the Bay without It doesn’t matter if you’re a superstar playing to do. improve myself when I walk out the door just over 12 months ago, with the focus being positive,” added Smith. interruption from any hidden dangers beneath because you can only reach your destination in the Premier League or a 16 year-old just I worked with one Premier League player on encouraging young players to discuss their The work of the North East-based charity has the surface, although he admits the possibility and potential if you realise where you’re starting out. If you’re a good player what’s who told me he only used to give fty or sixty personal problems and concerns. not gone unnoticed, with the recent award of of meeting a Great White Shark did play on starting from. his mind: And with the social wellbeing of footballers £411,854 made to them from the Big Lottery remaining under the microscope, the charity’s Fund (BLF) designed to help them reach out “Prior to the swim a few people had been Chairman Dean Smith believes this sort of even further. trying to wind me up about the possibility of support is essential to players at the outset “Since we received news of our grant I have coming face to face with one,” said Urwin. of their careers. been completely overwhelmed,” said Smith. “In the main I laughed it off but I could “Our main aim through these sessions is to “This support from the BLF is vital to a charity de nitely hear the Jaws music playing in my make young people aware that it is ‘okay not of our size and it will guarantee our campaign head as I was about to get underway.” to feel okay’ and that ‘there is always a way’.” can continue to grow over the next 5 years There is still time to belatedly sponsor Paul and beyond.” The seminars delivered by If U Care Share and IUCS so if you wish to make a donation aim to support and help Apprentices combat That cash wasn’t their only nancial good news please visit: negative emotions and feelings of despair and in November as LFE’s Business Development distress both on and off the pitch. Manager Paul Urwin took to the chilly waters uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ of San Francisco Bay to complete the Alcatraz alcatrazswim Such issues can be the difference between an 18 swim and in the process raised close to £700 year-old ful lling a dream of life as a professional www.ifucareshare.co.uk for IUCS. footballer or not – one reason why the impact of Dean and wife Shirley’s presentations have a “As a relatively new organisation we are lasting effect on Apprentices. heavily reliant on fundraising so Paul Urwin’s 18 19