Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

What age do boys get scouted for FB

15 replies

MissEDashwood · 03/09/2017 12:27

Total dream I know, but doesn't anyone know about the age range involved with football scouts? As in people who see potential, then sign a teenager up to a junior versions of the team?

OP posts:
Moonshine86 · 03/09/2017 12:31

I know of children signing for an academy from the age of 8...

cavatron · 03/09/2017 12:31

My son was scouted by a top premier league club (wont name as outing) at 4. He attended a 'fun day' run by them and was picked up by the academy. He hated it and we pulled him out after eight weeks. It's brutal and a lot of the parents watching were vile.

Was told by the Head Coach there that most kids are picked up by 9, that the age they get a contract. Can still happen to older kids too of course but chances reduce the older they get.

cavatron · 03/09/2017 12:32

as that's the age*

AlexanderHamilton · 03/09/2017 12:33

From about 7/8 onwards but constantly assessed out all the time.

TheweewitchRoz · 03/09/2017 12:37

Agree with pp - age 7/8 seems to be prime but they scout them younger & older too. I think they're always on the look out.

Original poster
MissEDashwood · 03/09/2017 12:42

Best get DS thinking about alternate careers. Saw some Academies mentioned during the transfer news, but I'm guessing you get picked over applying.

WD on the Premiership team, sorry it didn't work. Does your son still aspire to be a footballer?

OP posts:
thisnthat · 03/09/2017 12:42

Most clubs sign kids officially to their academies from the age of 8, after which they are regularly assessed and either dropped or kept on. They obviously do pick up older boys, if they hear about/see anyone with potential.

Original poster
MissEDashwood · 03/09/2017 12:43

Sorry thank you for replies too 😃

OP posts:
cavatron · 03/09/2017 12:43

He's five now and currently aspires to be Spider-Man! If he's still as good a few years or so down the line then there's still hope. He's incredible - but I wasn't prepared to see him so unhappy. X

cantkeepawayforever · 03/09/2017 21:37

Even in lower leagues it's about 7/8. DS played for the local team,'s academy for years 3-5, and was then dropped the summer before Y6, so he would have been 7 when signed on and 10 when dropped.
I think there's a lot of falling by the wayside for those picked up early, but it was pretty clear that at 10/11 they were only looking to take on those who they seriously thought would play in their youth team at least.

Training was good, especially for those in specialised positions where training at local club level is fairly mixed - DS was / is a goalie - but it is a huge commitment, brutal in its acceptance / rejection. A LOT of the parents are hugely ambitious and competitive, including trampling on other people's DS's if it gets their own child a better chance.

starfleet · 04/09/2017 14:07

DS is a goalie and was scouted at 16 (he's 17 now) - was approached by two lower division teams. He attended a couple of training sessions with one of them but decided that it wasn't for him.

He was asked to go back and train with them again a couple of months ago but didn't want to. He's happier as part of his Sunday league team and the odd open age game he plays when called upon.

He has a few friends who were picked up by Premier League teams from the age of about 7 but dropped without warning at around 14/15. It's a tough world and can be devastating for those who aren't kept on.

DS does not like to draw attention to himself and wouldn't tell anyone that he'd been scouted.

Leeds2 · 04/09/2017 18:27

My club (I am a fan, nothing to do with them otherwise) run trials most holidays that kids can sign themselves up for, and if they are any good they get signed up. I have seen them advertised on the club's website, and twitter feed, so I would guess most clubs do a similar thing.

Nuttynoo · 04/09/2017 18:31

You need to attend one or another of their clubs/trials etc. I've only heard of clubs sending scouts to local schools in deprived areas.

TantrumsAndBalloons · 04/09/2017 18:31

One of my ds was scouted for a premier league team when he was 15 and the other has just signed for another PL team after finishing his 6 week trial aged 14

They can be scouted at any age. Scouts generally tend to go to Cup finals,tournaments, end of season games when the top 2 teams are playing

They aren't at every game so the chances of being scouted at an older age get smaller

flickertee · 04/09/2017 18:41

DH is a professional footballer and was 'scouted' around the age of 10. He left his family home at 12 to live at the (very large mainland European) team academy at 12....

It's very cut throat and some of the stories he tells me about the boys who couldn't deal with the pressure are sad. It's a very young age to move away from your family. BUT he's now a successful professional, has played in 3 world cups, travelled the world and wouldn't change a thing. Not a great relationship with his family though, sadly.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.