Moving from US - Looking for info re football teams for DS

[movingtoengland]

Hello wise mumsnet parents,
My family is relocating to the London area (likely Richmond) this summer from the US and my son is a fairly serious football player where we live now. I am looking for advice on how to help him find a team in the UK. He is 11 and will be starting secondary school in September. It seems like many of the trials are by invitation only and a result of having been scouted while playing at a current team - which will obviously be a bit tricky for him at this distance! :) Any advice greatly appreciated!

Do you mean soccer, or what we'd call American football?

ha! my soccer, your (UK) football! :-)

The big team trials are all invitation only, but the local teams will have open trials, if he's good enough to go direct into a professional teams programme, get writing to them, with the right CV, they would invite to a trial. You will need to be playing at a very high level in the US, and your coaching networks there will know the right people to talk to.

You might be a bit late for the open trials depending on how soon you're over here, they're normally June time, in ready to start training over the summer.

DS attended an open summer event that was advertised on the club website, and was invited to a trial following that. They also have scouts at local team matches sometimes too. Good luck!

He'll have no problem finding a team; just contact lots clubs in the area you move to. Try find a big one with lots teams. Once he's there they should be able to advise what they think re his level. Then is they think he's pro club academy level they can assist getting him a trial

thanks so much for your advice! :)

Invitation and also I believe the team coach can nominate players.