'The Footballer’s Journey', published by Bennion Kearny, is a book with ‘real-world advice on becoming and remaining a professional footballer’.
It has been compiled by Dean Caslake and Guy Branston.
Caslake is a Bournemouth University graduate who was thought to have a degree of talent as a footballer. Since failing to progress to a professional level, he has always been left wondering what other players ‘had’ that he didn’t. He wanted to know what the professionals – the people you see on a Saturday afternoon – had done differently to put themselves in the position they are in.
Branston is a former professional footballer, most recently at Plymouth Argyle, who has been involved in the game for nearly 20 years. After playing for 19 professional clubs and making 26 moves in his career, he has had more setbacks than most and that gives him a special insight into what qualities are needed to succeed in the up and down game of football.
This book is designed to be helpful and I think it succeeds in that. But will boys hopeful of a career as a professional footballer generally be disposed to reading a 150-page book – one without pictures? Their parents could certainly read it. In fact, one chapter has the title ‘Attention Parents! You Have a Huge Role to Play’.
The same bits of advice tend to be repeated and some of the quotes from current or former professional players are quite similar. The advice is often simple and obvious, which doesn’t mean that it’s not good advice, but these are at the core…
- At a trial bring something different to the table to help catch the eye
- Don’t worry about making mistakes, being criticised or career setbacks
- You have to be ready to tread on toes to look after your own best interests
- You need to be willing to ‘run through brick walls’ on the field
- Prepare to make sacrifices – like leaving home at a young age or missing ‘nights out’
- Friends may become jealous of your success
- Don’t mess about at training – work on every aspect of your position
- External influences shouldn’t affect your focus
‘Working hard’ and ‘having the right attitude’ are continually stressed – as they should be – but you need some talent too. Getting qualifications at school is important and having an idea what you want to do with your life if you don’t make it to the professional level.
I was expecting more on agents. These days even young boys are looking to get one!
