It Was All A Dream
By Unedited Stories
From the producers of the multi-award winning Coming In From The Cold, comes a new podcast documentary series about the journey, the dream and reality of becoming a professional football player through the academy system. Only 1% of those in England’s football academies go on to become professional full-time players at a Premier League or WSL club. 99% won’t. This is their story.
Many young players, both boys and girls will take the journey through the football academy system, so why do so few make it, and at what cost? How do those lost to the system cope with being discarded? What is the impact on their parents and other members of the family? How do those who work in the game help or hinder their progress? What about the players, their sacrifices, their challenges and ultimately where they are now?
Narrated by Troy Townsend, this series features Premier League, WSL and footballing stars Andros Townsend, Eberechi Eze, Ben White, Andy Robertson, Anita Asante and Steven Caulker. You will also hear from footballing legends such as Les Ferdinand, Jamie Carragher, Trevor Sinclair, Lee Trundle and Marcus Gayle, alongside the game’s most respected coaches such as Chris Ramsey, Manisha Tailor & Hannah Dingley, just to name a few.
This production was supported by The Audio Content Fund and broadcast nationally on talkSPORT.
Produced by Andrew Spence
Assistant Producer: Anne-Marie Batson
Writer: Drew Christie
Sound Design: Bernard P Achampong
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Latest episode
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Bonus #2: Live Show on talkSPORT
Troy joined talkSPORT's Hugh Woozencroft and former England International and Arsenal quadruple winner, Lianne Sanderson to hear first-hand from players, parents and professionals about their experiences of the UK's football academy system. Here's th… -
Bonus #1: Live Show on talkSPORT
Troy joined talkSPORT's Hugh Woozencroft and former England International and Arsenal quadruple winner, Lianne Sanderson to hear first-hand from players, parents and professionals about their experiences of the UK's football academy system. Here's th… -
A New Hope
Episode 3 looks at ways of making the Academy system better, and how the governing bodies can help revolutionize the system. Troy Townsend makes THREE calls to action that the Premier League, EFL and the WS… -
The Dark Side
Trigger warning: This episode features experiences of depression and suicidal thoughts.Troy Townsend speaks to Premier League players; Arsenal's Ben White, Scotland captain Andy Robertson and Crystal Palace's … -
The 1 Percent
Only 1% of the boys and girls in England’s football academy system will have a professional full-time career at a Premier League club.Their journey can start as early as three years old. This means that their families have to make sacri… -
What is the problem with the dream? (teaser)
Did you know only 1% of those in England’s football academy system will have a professional full-time career at a Premier League club?All this considering that boys and girls as young as 3 are being scouted and signed to football clubs,…