with around 12,500 kids presently involved in football academies in the uk and statistics show less than 0.5% will actually make it as a pro it does make you wonder

a - do they provide value for money
b - if so many don't make it what is the point ?

when i think what my lad went through with the city academy /COE it's just a rat race really ! the thing that got my blood boiling was to take him out of local football at the age of 9 at the age when kids just want to have fun with there mates .