Fields of broken dreams: How the odds are stacked against youth players

Only 180 of the 1.5 million boys who play underage football in England at any one time, end up in the Premier League. The percentage success rate is 0.012 or one in every 8,333.

Just 7% of teenagers who join top flight English clubs get a second contract. Of the 222 players born in the Republic of Ireland between 1990 and 1995, only 14 went on to play for their senior team.

Stephen Finn organised a conference to inform the parents of aspiring players about what might lie in store. He compared the rates at which different countries brought players through from under-17 level and found that the same problems are encountered across the board. Almost a third of the players who played under 17 football for Ireland between 2008 and 2013 never represented their country again. Just 5% of them won senior caps for the country. The figures for players from other countries were better, but nowhere can early promise be counted upon to lead to sustained elite level success.

Some of the most talented Irish players in Britain have been defeated by the challenges of playing in the professional leagues. Finn believes that Dessie Hutchinson, who spent five years at Brighton, should have stayed at school and went over at 19. Back in Ireland, the intention is that the underage Airtricity Leagues can provide an alternative pathway for players. They can stay with their families and pursue their education. It is hoped that this will also develop their talent. Only one in 99 players from an academy makes it. Back to Mail Online home.

Jason Donohue is the manager of the under-15 Ireland team. He believes the development of young players is getting better. Brentford's co-director of football Phil Giles thinks it's no different to what is going on in football. This is third article in a new series focusing on youth development in Ireland. You can read each part in The Irish Times and on Irishtimes.com/sport every day this week.