The Premier League is set to release a report marking the 10th anniversary of the formal academy system that will include significantly enhanced measures designed to protect young footballers, i can reveal – but campaigners are concerned not enough has been done.
It is 18 months since Max Noble shared with i his experiences at Fulham’s academy that resulted in him considering suicide. A decade later Noble is still dealing with severe anxiety and depression due to his treatment at the club.
Noble’s testimony and his subsequent film detailing the often harrowing experiences of others prompted hundreds of current and former academy players to speak out about how poorly they were treated in academies and the lack of aftercare they were offered upon release.
i revealed in April last year that the Premier League was discussing the prospect of a formal aftercare process to ensure released academy players received adequate well-being and mental health support, which was seen by campaigners as an important breakthrough.
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The finer details of the significantly enhanced measures to protect player’s welfare, set to be included in the report recognising a decade of the Elite Player Performance Plan, are not yet known.
“Despite the horrific stories we’ve heard, it’s 18 months later and not one step has been taken to effectively support these vulnerable children,” Noble told i. “It’s shocking to me that nothing concrete has been done. Of course some clubs choose to do more than others but there must but a minimum standard imposed by governing bodies to protect all academy players.”
The amount of staff working in education and player care at the top Category One academies has, i was told, significantly increased since Noble told his story. But Noble, 32, is unconvinced by the approach of having staff members employed by the club whose role would include listening to complaints about coaches or managers at the club.
“A safeguarding officer employed by a club is a conflict of interest,” Noble said. “If they’re working for the club, how can they also be working to protect the player from the club? They must be independent.
“As we seen in most cases a child will never report abuse if they fear it will jeopardise their dream or future.”
At individual clubs, steps have been taken to try to improve how academy footballers are treated and to try to support them when they are released.
A year ago, for example, i revealed that Tottenham Hotspur were recruiting a Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Manager to work closely with the academy and ensure mental health and wellbeing were prioritised throughout the club. Liverpool have also established a robust alumni network to keep tabs on former academy players and offer support where necessary.
The Premier League runs training programmes for players released at 16 years old – before earning a scholarship – and for those aged 18 to 23 who may have signed professional contracts but were eventually let go.
The programmes allow the players to train with professional coaches, hear about other former academy players who understand what they are going through and attend workshops on possible future options.
In 2018, Noble set up a sportswear company, Certified Sports, with the goal of fighting injustice in sport and encouraging anyone affected to reach out.
“Where will be 18 months from now?” Noble said. “Hopefully the Premier League, PFA, FA and other governing bodies will do more to finally put to an end the pain caused to these rejected children.”
Almost 10 months ago, the fan-led review into the governance of English football went outside its remit to call for football to do more to support young players who do not make it. The report criticised the FA for its “limited role” in ensuring released players were given adequate mental health support.
The report stated: “As a matter of high priority, the football stakeholders, including the FA, men’s leagues, the PFA, clubs and women’s leagues should work together to devise a holistic and comprehensive player welfare system to fully support players exiting the game,” the report recommends.
Former sports minister Tracey Crouch, who led the review, told i: “What was really interesting and quite significant was the number of fans who were concerned about young players in academies. It wasn’t something we thought we were going to hear.
“Sadly we’ve seen some tragedies as a consequence. Now is the time [to act], we’re all talking about mental health, let’s put some pieces in place to support youngsters.”
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