The Evolution of Football Academies: Comparing Youth Development in Ireland and the UK
A recent event held by Aberdeen Football Club showcased some of the best youth talent in the UK, the Craig Brown Memorial Tournament. In what could only be described as a high-energy celebration of emerging football talent, Aberdeen, Newcastle United, Bohemian Football Club, Preston North End, Motherwell, Dundee, Rangers, and Celtic competed over a weekend filled with packed action. Aside from thrilling matches, the tournament provided an opportunity to observe and compare football academy systems in the UK and Ireland. The weekend of football was filled with intensity and passion, setting the stage for a deeper look into how football academies are attempting to shape their future.
Celtic and Bohemian Football Club walk out for the final
Full Time Focus
A striking aspect of the tournament was the full-time coaching staff surrounding the U15 teams. Conversations with staff from various clubs revealed a highly professional and structured process for developing young talent. Except for Bohemian Football Club from the Republic of Ireland, every club had full-time coaches overseeing their academy teams. No matter which club it was, whether it was Aberdeen, Newcastle United, Rangers, or Celtic, all of them had established full-time coaching staffs offering consistent and individualized care tailored to the developmental needs of their players. Compared with the other competing sides, Bohemian FC did not have full-time staff. Despite this, their performance onfield was not affected. The Dublin club reached the final after remaining unbeaten in six of their seven group stage games, conceding only one goal in the process. This raises the question, where does the lack of full-time coaching lead to disadvantages?
The Contact Hours Is Key
The answer to aforementioned question lies in contact hours. At U15, the team without full-time coaching also had the lowest contact hours. While academy football in the Rep of Ireland is on the rise, the Bohemian FC academy players worked roughly 4 and half hours per week on the pitch, with roughly 80 minutes in the gym. Around six hours of contact per week.
In comparison to the highest contact hours at the tournament, Celtic are managing roughly 18 hours of contact per week. Three times as much. The other clubs average at least half Celtics' hours, or just above or below. From U15 onwards, a stark difference in the contact hours between England, Scotland and Ireland appears to be the key to players' development rate. Yes, environment, coaching quality, and so forth come into the debate, but without a doubt, it's the massive difference in contact hours that determines the rate of development.
Changing Times
As times have changed, contact hours within academies have become even more important. Kids used to line the streets with games and countless contact hours playing with friends or alone from dusk to dawn. Today, a growing number of streets are empty, and young people are far more likely to engage in structured sessions within structured environments for their contact hours. As a result, those who are able to create an environment which allows them to thrive will be at an advantage in the long run. By having enough staff in place and ensuring an efficient set-up, more hours can be made available to players, which will give them a better opportunity to develop as a player. Finding out what it will take to increase contact hours is crucial to bridging the gap between football development in the UK and Ireland, especially from the age of 15.