at that age, the academies are cash cows, nothing more, nothing less, The parents know it, but they still go on the of chance that little johnny is in that 1 or 2 % of them that make it in the game, and why shouldnt they, if they can afford it, chasing that dream costs big money

We have a Southampton one in Bath, certain nights of the week the pitches are full at the STV with Southampton, I got chatting to a coach about the sheer numbers of kids who are involved and how i bet a very small % will make it, he laughed and said " but look at them ( pointing at the parents ) they all love it "