A look into Trent Alexander-Arnold's new initiative into solving "football's biggest issue"
After having the privilege of speaking to Crewe Alexandra and Scotland U18’s starlet Max Woodcock all about his career, the winger is now amongst the thousands anxiously waiting to find out their destiny, as decision time regarding professional contracts loom.
Woodcock, who has recently made his first appearances for Scotland, spoke about his short-term and long-term goals as he waits to hear what lies in store for him as his two-year scholarship draws to a close.
The forward said: “My aspirations moving forward would be to first of all get a professional contract at Crewe and hopefully in the next couple of years, sort of make a name for yourself and get into the first-team and establish yourself as a first-team player and then hopefully after a couple of years playing as a professional at Crewe, look to move on to a higher league and a bigger club.
“That’s essentially what I aspire to do, play as high a level as possible and if I can do that then it’ll be brilliant.”
But at a time that can be an immensely jubilant and a relieving time for successful academy scholar’s, the majority of footballer’s are left feeling empty, with their dreams of a professional career shattered.
Less than 30% off academy footballer’s are offered a professional contract at some point during their playing careers, despite potentially being a part of youth setup’s for up to nine years.
Nine years of commitment, travelling and dedication is far from enough to guarantee young footballer’s their dream, with many people believing the well-being of unsuccessful scholars is overlooked — labelling it as “football’s biggest issue”.
In 2013, a young man opted to take his own life after years of suffering from mental health difficulties following his release from a Premier League club, outlining the dangers of the England football’s youth development system.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, a player that has come through the Liverpool academy, and cemented himself as one of the world’s best right-backs, has decided to make action on the issue, using his platform to spread awareness on the on-going challenges these setbacks have on young aspiring footballers.
The 24 year-old is an academy football success story, a fortunate exception to the 99% of nine year-old footballers that sign for an academy and don’t become professional.
‘The After Academy’, launched by Alexander-Arnold himself, is an initiative that will provide an array of career opportunities to the footballer’s that do not achieve their dreams of reaching the professional stage.
Despite owing a lot of his success to his time at the Liverpool FC Academy, Trent first-hand has seen the other side of the youth system, understanding the affects being released can have on those who don’t make it.
The PFA have confirmed themselves as supporting partners of the initiative, as a body that will regularly work to support former academy players.
Not only will the PFA ensure these opportunities get in front of the right people, but they are further equipped to provide education, career and wellbeing counselling for all former academy scholars.
Speaking to The PFA, the founder of The After Academy said: “I loved my time at the Liverpool Academy, it gave me everything I have today and I’m so grateful to be in the position I’m in.
“That feeling of lifting trophies for your childhood club is magical and I wouldn’t swap it for anything in the world, but if things didn’t work out the way they did I could have been one of those being told the dream is over.
“I’m fortunate to not know what that conversation is like but I know from my friends and other former players how hard it hits and how tough it can be.
“I’m proud of this programme as it looks to give another chance to those who didn’t make it, and I hope it is just a first step towards a brighter future for these young players.”
Although bodies such as The PFA, Premier League and The FA have provided help to the well-being of unsuccessful academy footballers’, the activation of The After Academy, feels like a step in the right direction in ensuring young players that there is life after football, offering new pathways, enabling them to utilise their skills acquired from academy football, in other walks of life.
The platform is prepared to go live later this year with more information able to be found via Trent Alexander-Arnold of the PFA closer to launch.