Man City Academy

[ramadaone]

Apparently Man City have reached an agreement with Allexton JFC to set up an Academy at their New Parks ground which will have a dramatic effect on our Academy - a Leicester Club in the heart of Leicester selling their soul - a disgraceful decision

[sphericalfox]

Apparently Man City have reached an agreement with Allexton JFC to set up an Academy at their New Parks ground which will have a dramatic effect on our Academy - a Leicester Club in the heart of Leicester selling their soul - a disgraceful decision

Who says that we can't scout them and steal them?

[Lesta Legend]

Apparently Man City have reached an agreement with Allexton JFC to set up an Academy at their New Parks ground which will have a dramatic effect on our Academy - a Leicester Club in the heart of Leicester selling their soul - a disgraceful decision

My 8 year old plays for them, he has been looked at by forest, I was holding out for city.

Totally shocked by this if true

[Webbo]

My 8 year old plays for them, he has been looked at by forest, I was holding out for city.

Totally shocked by this if true

If he signs for Man City we'll get him on loan anyway.

[ramadaone]

My 8 year old plays for them, he has been looked at by forest, I was holding out for city.

Totally shocked by this if true

It came from a man who knows the main man up there ( Morris ? ) who apparently is not a big Foxes fan

[Ashley]

My 8 year old plays for them, he has been looked at by forest, I was holding out for city.

Totally shocked by this if true

My cousins 7. Played for Leicester, Forest last season. Derby looked at him and Villa want to take a look at him also. Because they don't sign contracts untill there 9 he can play for all 4 if he wanted ::

I would say for him to go Villa if he got offered a contract at 9 though. There youth system is excellent. He is a Leicester fan but Villa produce no end of youth talent. How many have Leicester brought through in the past 'x' ammount of years.

[Bert]

We have one of the best academies in the country.

[Ashley]

We have one of the best academies in the country.

We do yes. We win everything at youth level. How many actually make it to our first team?

[Bert]

Heskey, King, Schlupp, Piper, Chambers, O'Neill, Stearman, Wesolowski, Logan,(?) Mattock, Oakes, Reeves, Stevenson. To name a few. All came through our academy and have played League games for us. Some not as many as others but still.

[Happy Fox]

Heskey, King, Schlupp, Piper, Chambers, O'Neill, Stearman, Wesolowski, Logan,(?) Mattock, Oakes, Reeves, Stevenson. To name a few. All came through our academy and have played League games for us. Some not as many as others but still.

Don't forget Lineker

[Callabinho]

We won't sacrifice our academy! It's currently the most successful aspects of our football club

[Freeman's Wharfer]

I thought you had to live within one and a half hour drive of the club to play for their academy as a kid?! Leicester to Manchester is more than that so surely Man City can't just set-up anywhere outside of this distance in the country and nab the local prospects.

Also, who have Alexton produced to make Man City think that this club is particularly worth their attention? It's not as if they're that Senrab who have produced a string of players for the London clubs is it?!

[Lesta Legend]

It came from a man who knows the main man up there ( Morris ? ) who apparently is not a big Foxes fan

Asking around tomorrow, as he has training.....

[Raw Dykes]

Apparently Man City have reached an agreement with Allexton JFC to set up an Academy at their New Parks ground which will have a dramatic effect on our Academy - a Leicester Club in the heart of Leicester selling their soul - a disgraceful decision

I am slightly worried about this if it's true. Would this be a first? If so, might it set a precedent for big clubs setting up camp all over the country, stealing even more of the best talent from smaller clubs? Maybe Leicester should set up academies in the north west, London and Brum if this sort of thing becomes frequent?

[Jimmy]

Heskey, King, Schlupp, Piper, Chambers, O'Neill, Stearman, Wesolowski, Logan,(?) Mattock, Oakes, Reeves, Stevenson. To name a few. All came through our academy and have played League games for us. Some not as many as others but still.

Heskey was early to mid 90's, Piper late 90's turn of the century, Schlupp still has a long way to go, Chambers never made an impact (maybe ruined by injuries), O'Neill never played a league game for us only the paint pot cup, Stearman was a good product, Wesolowski ruined by injuries so we'll never really know, Logan is a solid back up keeper, Mattock was vastly overrated and done nothing since he left, Oakes was 90's and never did much either, can't remember Reeves & Stevenson wasn't good enough also you forgot Odhiambo who like Chambers debuted to a bit of hype but did notthing

so of that list spanning 16 years from when Heskey debuted to now only Heskey, Piper (both pre-admin), Stearman & King (after admin) have actually made a contribution to us, our academy is shite because the focus is on winning tournaments instead of developing talent, its not like we have a stream of them being sold to lower league clubs either, they get released and do nothing in the game.

Simply having played a game for us at some point during a time where clubs practically play their youth team in the league cup means nothing

[iancognito]

It's not really a surprise though, that New Parks set up looks first rate and it's full of purpose-built facilities & playing fields. I go past it most days on my way to work and half the kids are wearing Man U & Chelsea tops anyway. It's not like Junior Foxes are being converted to the dark side.

Mini academies or not, scouts have regularly stolen kids from other clubs 'patches'. It's not usually that far out but it's swings and roundabouts with this sort of thing. Didn't we get Andy King via Chelsea? Not to mention the two Arsenal lads we've nabbed last week.

[Jimmy]

It's not really a surprise though, that New Parks set up looks first rate and it's full of purpose-built facilities & playing fields. I go past it most days on my way to work and half the kids are wearing Man U & Chelsea tops anyway. It's not like Junior Foxes are being converted to the dark side.

Mini academies or not, scouts have regularly stolen kids from other clubs 'patches'. It's not usually that far out but it's swings and roundabouts with this sort of thing. Didn't we get Andy King via Chelsea? Not to mention the two Arsenal lads we've nabbed last week.

Chelsea released King so its slightly different, I agree about your point though we don't seem to be able to steal as many kids as other clubs, the fact it would be easier to break through here should be a draw but doesn't seem to have an effect

[iancognito]

Heskey was early to mid 90's, Piper late 90's turn of the century, Schlupp still has a long way to go, Chambers never made an impact (maybe ruined by injuries), O'Neill never played a league game for us only the paint pot cup, Stearman was a good product, Wesolowski ruined by injuries so we'll never really know, Logan is a solid back up keeper, Mattock was vastly overrated and done nothing since he left, Oakes was 90's and never did much either, can't remember Reeves & Stevenson wasn't good enough also you forgot Odhiambo who like Chambers debuted to a bit of hype but did notthing

so of that list spanning 16 years from when Heskey debuted to now only Heskey, Piper (both pre-admin), Stearman & King (after admin) have actually made a contribution to us, our academy is shite because the focus is on winning tournaments instead of developing talent, its not like we have a stream of them being sold to lower league clubs either, they get released and do nothing in the game.

Simply having played a game for us at some point during a time where clubs practically play their youth team in the league cup means nothing

I've got to argue that point actually.

I think if you compare that list - however far it goes back - to that of most clubs our size and bigger, we bring through a helluva lot more talent than most. Heskey is the biggest name there, mid 90s yes but still playing at the top level. Piper would have played for England I'm sure if it hadn't been for the injury that finished him. Luke O'Neill got thrown in by Pearson a couple of times in league games (Bristol C at home if IIRC) but looked very out of his depth. Mattock would be playing at the top level had he not chosen to go giving the Big I Am and picking fights with drunks. As for Oakes, he found his level for Wycombe & Notts County. I actually think he'd have made it here if he'd not had Izzet & Lennon ahead of him. His brother Scott was a better player but ended up at Luton.

We do okay but the lack of continuity with recent managers hasn't helped either.

[Jimmy]

I've got to argue that point actually.

I think if you compare that list - however far it goes back - to that of most clubs our size and bigger, we bring through a helluva lot more talent than most. Heskey is the biggest name there, mid 90s yes but still playing at the top level. Piper would have played for England I'm sure if it hadn't been for the injury that finished him. Luke O'Neill got thrown in by Pearson a couple of times in league games (Bristol C at home if IIRC) but looked very out of his depth. Mattock would be playing at the top level had he not chosen to go giving the Big I Am and picking fights with drunks. As for Oakes, he found his level for Wycombe & Notts County. I actually think he'd have made it here if he'd not had Izzet & Lennon ahead of him. His brother Scott was a better player but ended up at Luton.

We do okay but the lack of continuity with recent managers hasn't helped either.

If Oakes was good enough he'd of broke in when Lennon left but he didn't, just checked O'Neill played 3 games for us, 1 in the pain pot cup, 1 in the League cup and 1 League appearance. We produce less then a player every 4 seasons from our academy and that's if you go back as far as Heskey who is easily the best player that has come through in that time, its pathetic, Southampton have changed managers a lot also but they still regularly produce players that are good enough for them, selling them for massive money of ours Heskey went for £11m, Piper for £3m Stearman & Mattock for around £1.5m a piece the rest were released.

Not yet mentioned is Gradel who was booted out as NP didn't like him for a pittance and has since moved for around £2m back to France with us getting 17.5% sell on according to Bates.

After Piper debuted in 2000 the next player (who actually made a decent amount of app/impact on the 1st team) didn't break through until Stearman did in 2004, Wesolowski was 2 years later in 06, Mattock in 07 (last game of the season) & King October 2007 but wasn't a regular until the following season (cue a Thracian rant about how he should of been).

frankly that is incredibly poor, given we were skint throughout most of that time the Kids had every chance of overtaking someone to break in but never did, I remember thinking that at the start of the 08/09 season, that it was Chambers big chance but he never even looked like breaking into the side.

I don't care if the academy wins anything or not, if it provides 1 or 2 players a year, either good enough for our squad or that get sold for a decent sum of money then its doing its job. That's what its there to do not win trophies

[Lesta Legend]

The setup is first rate, the club is highly regarded for producing players, ironically 3 going through our (lcfc) academy and getting youth international honours. Aka kee and ashley chambers.

We can be proud of our scouting network and the youth teams are one of the most successful. It seems we have to have more players acheive further success in their careers before the doubters accept that. The fact some players don't achieve is perhaps the fault of the club for not giving players more time in the first team, bewildering given the success they achieve .......

It is worrying that such a successful club that has and should be a ready supply for leicester will now be doing so for man city.... On a potential bigger concern is the gravitation of the best players to alexton from across the county, giving them the first pick on the extremely talented lads.

I really hope this isn't true hope to have more info later

[dhermon]

you can also add to the list with

O'Grady

Wright

Heath

Dawson

Stewart

Plus 2 youth keepers we have released in the past 12-24 months are getting starts at league 2 clubs atm so our acadamy aint all that shit seeing how little money we have been putting into it over the last few years til our money men came along

[Bert]

Heskey was early to mid 90's, Piper late 90's turn of the century, Schlupp still has a long way to go, Chambers never made an impact (maybe ruined by injuries), O'Neill never played a league game for us only the paint pot cup, Stearman was a good product, Wesolowski ruined by injuries so we'll never really know, Logan is a solid back up keeper, Mattock was vastly overrated and done nothing since he left, Oakes was 90's and never did much either, can't remember Reeves & Stevenson wasn't good enough also you forgot Odhiambo who like Chambers debuted to a bit of hype but did notthing

so of that list spanning 16 years from when Heskey debuted to now only Heskey, Piper (both pre-admin), Stearman & King (after admin) have actually made a contribution to us, our academy is shite because the focus is on winning tournaments instead of developing talent, its not like we have a stream of them being sold to lower league clubs either, they get released and do nothing in the game.

Simply having played a game for us at some point during a time where clubs practically play their youth team in the league cup means nothing

Well Luke O'Neill played for us in the league against Sheffield United at home on boxing day, when we 2-1. So you're wrong. The question was what academy players have made it into our first team. All players I mentioned did, whether it was for just one game or longer. I don't know why you've mentioned whether they were good or not, because that has nothing to do with any of the original point. Also, Piper never played for us in the 90's.

[Lesta Legend]

Well Luke O'Neill played for us in the league against Sheffield United at home on boxing day, when we 2-1. So you're wrong. The question was what academy players have made it into our first team. All players I mentioned did, whether it was for just one game or longer. I don't know why you've mentioned whether they were good or not, because that has nothing to do with any of the original point. Also, Piper never played for us in the 90's.

The manager of the under 9's laughed at me and said this was rubbish, he did say that it would be Liverpool if any club.... Can't falsify this rumour yet, who knows but I doubt this is true

[Lineker's Left Foot]

It's not really a surprise though, that New Parks set up looks first rate and it's full of purpose-built facilities & playing fields. I go past it most days on my way to work and half the kids are wearing Man U & Chelsea tops anyway. It's not like Junior Foxes are being converted to the dark side.

Mini academies or not, scouts have regularly stolen kids from other clubs 'patches'. It's not usually that far out but it's swings and roundabouts with this sort of thing. Didn't we get Andy King via Chelsea? Not to mention the two Arsenal lads we've nabbed last week.

Not really read into him, but intrigued to know where Schlupp came from tbf - German Under 19 international.

[Xen]

I thought you had to live within one and a half hour drive of the club to play for their academy as a kid?! Leicester to Manchester is more than that so surely Man City can't just set-up anywhere outside of this distance in the country and nab the local prospects.

Yep. but afaik it doesn't have to be 1.5 hours from the club, just the academy/development ground. Lots of clubs have multiple development teams based across the country (There's a few west-mids teams with development teams based in leicestershire, I think), so as long as you're close enough to those, you can play for them. And besides, I'm pretty sure ManU's asian academies aren't 1.5hours travel from Manchester .