Phil Foden made the journey through Academy football (Image: PA)
It felt like slow motion watching my fifteen-year-old boy get to the edge of the penalty area and meet a perfect return from the right wing.
He struck the ball sharply and confidently into the bottom corner first time to give his side a 2-0 lead over Aston Villa in the final of the U16 Heston International Cup.
This prestigious tournament, organized by QPR, was spread over two days. On the first day, my son's U16 Academy team had already defeated Aston Villa, Fulham and Norwegian club Lillestrom in the group stage.
Parents were invited to watch the tournament so it was a trip down the A303 from our home in the South West and a weekend away to London for all the family.
"We had a brief moment with our son before he returned to the team hotel after the first day.
It was all going well, his team had won all three games, although as a left winger he said the Aston Villa right-back was probably the toughest opponent he had ever faced. "Daddy, he's so fast, so strong."
It was a tricky format, games spread over just 40 minutes and at U16 level in Academy football this meant a quick start was imperative.
The next day, in the semi-finals, Aston Villa defeated Crossfire from Seattle, USA, a side who looked seriously impressive in beating West Ham and QPR on day one.
My son's team went into the semi-final against Danish club Helsingor and after conceding an early goal they fought back for a 2-1 win to book a rematch with Villa in the final.
It was already a great performance from a SW Academy consisting of about ten U16 players, four of the strongest U15s and a few trial players (there are always trial players in Academy football).
Now my son was preparing to meet his 'toughest opponent' again, and it happened to be his special day, his best day in five years as an Academy football player. As well as playing matches against teams from all over the West Country, he had played against Manchester United, earned a draw at Liverpool, beaten Swansea and Cardiff, defeated Fulham and much more in five years.
The story continues
But this was his big moment.
Before he scored that goal from 20 yards out to make it 2-0, he had already executed a sublime dummy and neatly measured pass to create the opening goal. He completed the set with a thrilling run and cross for the third goal.
We had beaten Aston Villa 3-1 in the final and my boy had two assists and a goal for the long journey back along the A303.
The coaches said players could travel home with their families and once he was in the car, a beaming smile on his teenage chops, we all said, "well played buddy, great performance."
The immediate reaction of this young man who, like millions of other young boys and girls, had always dreamed of becoming a professional footballer, was:
"Thanks, but I'll be released in a few months."
And he was!
Academy football is an incredible journey, talented young boys can enjoy great football and life experiences, but they all have the nagging reality in the back of their minds that it could end.
Each age group, up to and including U14, will hear at the end of the season whether they will be accepted for another year. Players then reach the U15/U16 age group and this is where things really get difficult.
The two groups will be merged and the U16s will receive their final decision around the end of November/beginning of December. The sensible logic is that this will be the second biggest decision in an Academy footballer's life: either you get accepted as a full-time apprentice, or you don't. The big one comes at U16 and whether they turn pro or not.
For those released, they should take stock of this life-changing moment before sitting their GCSE exams in May.
And for my young man, it was a life-changing moment, but also one he expected.
After returning for pre-season in early July, he had played well, scoring a few goals, grabbing a few assists, but also putting in some indifferent performances.
Most importantly, unlike others in the U16 team, he was not given game time with the U18 players and the trialists who were always there suddenly all seemed to be wingers, particularly left wingers.
As a parent, it's also a traumatic experience because you're so invested in your son's play, you know what it means to him or her and, ask any Academy parent for their absolute honesty, how much it means to you.
A few weeks before decision day, players and parents will receive plenty of support and guidance on what to expect, as well as insights on the other options available if the decision does not go as hoped.
We also had the option of me attending alone, or they could even text us the decision, if we preferred. A few days before the decision, the day after his birthday, I asked my boy what he wanted to do.
"I don't want to go because I know the answer, but it's my review, I have to be there."
On decision day we entered the room and you sit opposite coaches who have become friends over the years. They all care for your child, you know they have done everything they can to help them succeed and you also know that the journey has ended.
"It is with a heavy heart that we do not offer you an internship."
As soon as I heard those expected words, you go into parental protection mode. We thanked them all for a great five years and got out as quickly as possible. My boy had shown the courage to attend his final assessment even though he was certain of the negative outcome, now it was time to take him home.
It was cruel, brutal and ruthless, but this is elite football and not everyone can reach the next stage.
To make one thing clear, in the entire history of Academy football and as surely as night follows day, as surely as a wet Westland winter, no Academy parent has ever believed their child should be released.
But every year hundreds of young boys are released from professional academies.
We only have 92 professional clubs in England and while there are many brilliant youth setups across the country, Academy football is the pinnacle of youth football. It is the environment for the best coaches, the best facilities and the best players.
The reason this is the best is because it is such a tough environment. How else are clubs supposed to survive and thrive? Choices must be made and hearts must be broken before the very best can reach the professional arena.
At U16 level some are released, but the majority progress to U18. There are hardly any professionals at U18 level. The figures are staggering: research shows that less than 1% of Academy footballers go all the way to becoming a professional player.
The guys we see on TV are elite and while I know the salaries at the top of football are staggering, they deserve our admiration. They have survived where more than 99% of their peers have failed.
And even then, most of the select group who turn professional at age 18 will move on to the semi-professional or amateur game within a few years.
Professional football is the dream job for millions of young people, but also the most difficult to achieve.
For my boy, and I hope this is the same for anyone who has been released from an Academy, the support and guidance after the Academy has been excellent. If he had wanted, he could have continued training with the team. They had put him forward for exit trials, college programs, US scholarships and much more.
The welfare officer called every few days for the first few months. They understood what he was feeling and wanted to help. No parent can ask for more than that.
In his case though, my boy just wanted a clean break. Initially he didn't really want to play football, all the confidence and belief was gone, but over time he rediscovered his love for the game, the reason why he started playing in the first place.
Prior to that transition, he started training with an adult team and enjoyed being the big fish in the school football pond. Football has become fun again and there is a lot less pressure on it, which is so important with the GCSE exams next on the list.
For the boys moving up to the U18 age groups, enjoy every moment, play with freedom, train with dedication, and what will be will be. And please remember that so many new opportunities will open up after Academy Football ends.
Leave your comments on our social media pages or you can email them to me at [email protected]
