Post by observer on Jul 9, 2014 17:59:31 GMT
For those that are interested here is some information about the Academy.
It's a long post so apologies in advance!
From the age of 6 or 7 now Burton identify potentially elite players who train once or twice a week at St Georges Park in the indoor futsal arena or welbeck defence college (near Woodhouse eaves in the summer) outdoor on grass. Both stunning facilities. Matches are played at welbeck on sunday mornings and away of course.
Players can only officially sign for burton at under 9 agegroup and upwards although many are promised they will be signed before that age now to secure their loyalty.
9 to 12 year olds train a third night on Robert sutton school astro throughout the year. 13 years plus the lads also have one day a week day release from their schools.
Players you are seeing coming into the first team squad (two more just signed pro contracts haven't been through the full academy system with Burton as it only started 5 years ago now.
You won't see the full benefit of the academy that Burton have set up until five years from now and onwards when players will become 18 who have been at the academy from the age of 8 and had a full ten years coaching.
The good news to those who don't like the long ball game is these lads aren't allowed to play long ball in anything they do. The philosophy is to create technical and skilful players who play the ball from the back. Every player spends the first 15 minutes of every training session without fail practising technical skills with BOTH feet time and time again.
Most sessions then follow four against four matches with emphasis on pass move and using the skills they have practised with both feet.
If you have watched the first team like I have you may wonder where this will fit in!
But if you create players who are physically strong and fit with pace who are comfortable on the ball with either foot then you know that they can fit in with anything they are asked to do come the age of 18 plus.
You have keepers as well getting dedicated keeper training AND working on being comfortable with the ball with both feet from the age of 7 upwards at the club.
The whole atmosphere and work ethic at the academy is superb. The kids have to apply themselves at school and the club contact the school to check that happens. One boy was ejected from the academy for not working hard at school. At the end of every session the boys (as young as 6) line up automatically to shake hands with their coaches and thank them for the session.
Because the kids train at st Georges they are constantly asked by the FA to come in for coaching courses so coaches have junior players to train. These coaches from the best clubs across the UK and Europe are always impressed - none more so when they have kids without prompting walking up to them at the end and shaking their hand and saying thank you.
The discipline is instilled by Mike Whitlow - ex pro who many of you will remember.
So that's a summary. I've watched some of these young kids play incredible football at an incredibly young age.
Zeli stood out a mile for me watching Burton first team but seriously you have a conveyor belt of kids who will be as good and better than him coming along.
Defenders who can put their foot on the ball and go both ways and pass. Midfielders who can do it all and strikers with real skill and pace.
The chairman gives the club a solid base and supports the academy. You should get two pros a year from the academy from now on at least.
My point is be patient and every year they will get better and better as more time and quality coaching at one of the best facilities in the world from great coaches will have gone into these players.
It's a long post so apologies in advance!
From the age of 6 or 7 now Burton identify potentially elite players who train once or twice a week at St Georges Park in the indoor futsal arena or welbeck defence college (near Woodhouse eaves in the summer) outdoor on grass. Both stunning facilities. Matches are played at welbeck on sunday mornings and away of course.
Players can only officially sign for burton at under 9 agegroup and upwards although many are promised they will be signed before that age now to secure their loyalty.
9 to 12 year olds train a third night on Robert sutton school astro throughout the year. 13 years plus the lads also have one day a week day release from their schools.
Players you are seeing coming into the first team squad (two more just signed pro contracts haven't been through the full academy system with Burton as it only started 5 years ago now.
You won't see the full benefit of the academy that Burton have set up until five years from now and onwards when players will become 18 who have been at the academy from the age of 8 and had a full ten years coaching.
The good news to those who don't like the long ball game is these lads aren't allowed to play long ball in anything they do. The philosophy is to create technical and skilful players who play the ball from the back. Every player spends the first 15 minutes of every training session without fail practising technical skills with BOTH feet time and time again.
Most sessions then follow four against four matches with emphasis on pass move and using the skills they have practised with both feet.
If you have watched the first team like I have you may wonder where this will fit in!
But if you create players who are physically strong and fit with pace who are comfortable on the ball with either foot then you know that they can fit in with anything they are asked to do come the age of 18 plus.
You have keepers as well getting dedicated keeper training AND working on being comfortable with the ball with both feet from the age of 7 upwards at the club.
The whole atmosphere and work ethic at the academy is superb. The kids have to apply themselves at school and the club contact the school to check that happens. One boy was ejected from the academy for not working hard at school. At the end of every session the boys (as young as 6) line up automatically to shake hands with their coaches and thank them for the session.
Because the kids train at st Georges they are constantly asked by the FA to come in for coaching courses so coaches have junior players to train. These coaches from the best clubs across the UK and Europe are always impressed - none more so when they have kids without prompting walking up to them at the end and shaking their hand and saying thank you.
The discipline is instilled by Mike Whitlow - ex pro who many of you will remember.
So that's a summary. I've watched some of these young kids play incredible football at an incredibly young age.
Zeli stood out a mile for me watching Burton first team but seriously you have a conveyor belt of kids who will be as good and better than him coming along.
Defenders who can put their foot on the ball and go both ways and pass. Midfielders who can do it all and strikers with real skill and pace.
The chairman gives the club a solid base and supports the academy. You should get two pros a year from the academy from now on at least.
My point is be patient and every year they will get better and better as more time and quality coaching at one of the best facilities in the world from great coaches will have gone into these players.