The Sounders FC academy kicks off their tryouts this week. This is a very exciting period for the Sounders franchise, and will hopefully see an influx of local players into the professional ranks over the next couple of years. I grew up in a similar environment. Professional clubs in England have a youth policy that starts at the age of 10, or even younger. When I joined Leeds United at 9 years old, I trained at their School of Excellence once a week. This weekly training with the best players in the area happened for a number of years. As we got older, the commitment became greater. We had to give up playing local Sunday league football, and eventually high school football. From the age of 13, we trained twice a week, with games at the weekends against other professional clubs. It was a fantastic experience.
The environment was highly competitive. From the age of 12, you had to address every practice and game as a tryout. I thrived off this pressure. You had to push yourself each and every day, because new players were knocking on the door, fighting to replace you. I developed very good habits, determined to work my hardest each and every day. This was not only on the field, but making sure that I behaved and carried myself in a positive manner off the field. Integrity and character is defined both on and off the field, and Leeds United had very high standards.
When I reached the U’16 level, the team had been molded to encompass the best players the club could find. We played England in a friendly during that year, playing against Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard, and Wes Brown to name a few. Our team was made up of northerners, southerners, Irish, Welsh, and Scottish. The U’16 year was our last year as a “School of Excellence”, before we graduated to the Youth Team. This was our goal and our dream. We would be youth professional players, training every day on the same fields as the first team.
From that England game, from that group, the club only signed 4 players to youth professional contracts – myself, Jonathan Woodgate, Paul Robinson, and Steven McPhail. I had played for many years with many players who never made it. We would be training in the evening, and as we walked back to our cars, I would often see one of my teammates in tears, after being told that he was being cut, and his dream of playing for Leeds United was gone. It was a nervous year for all of us. But like I mentioned before, we hardened our characters each and every day.
The Sounders are developing a similar structure. They have the RTC’s, and then graduate the best players to the youth academy. This will not only develop a natural competitive environment, but will develop some very good players. However, my coaching philosophy encompasses all the players. Our job is to develop skills that kids can use on and off the field. So for the many kids that don’t quite make the level they dream of, they will have characteristics that can help them accomplish all their other goals and dreams. My experience at Leeds United was very special, but what I take most from it are the traits that are helping me build a new life, and seeking out new goals with the focus on being the very best that I can be.
The Sounders can have the same impact on the lives of the players in Washington state. I am excited to see how they build it….
