*NOMINATED FOR THE BEST AUDIO/RADIO DOCUMENTARY AWARD AT THE SJA BRITISH SPORTS JOURNALISM AWARDS 2021*

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 and Troy Townsend
Assistant Producer: Anne-Marie Batson
Writer: Drew Christie
Sound Design: Bernard P Achampong, Cassidy Baillie & Weyland Mckenzie-Witter
Executive Producer: Bernard P Achampong