Beyond Release: What Next?
Kate Iorpenda, reflects on the release process and the challenge of finding new clubs
As a mum who has supported two sons through a decade of academy football, I’ve experienced the highs and lows of this competitive world firsthand. It’s a journey marked by passion, hard work, and ultimately, resilience in the face of disappointment.
Both my sons were released from a Premier League academy at the age of 16, a situation that, despite our preparation, was still a painful experience. It’s a reality many parents face from the moment their children enter a professional pathway. But at 16, this marks a significant stage in their journey. The failure to secure a scholarship, which is the first real step on the professional pathway, can be a crushing blow for any child who dreams of a football career, and for the people around them. This disappointment can repeat itself at 18 and 21, with opportunities at new clubs diminishing each time.
The initial disappointment is undeniable, whether it’s unexpected news in the final hour or a decision that sours the final stages of time at an academy as playing time dwindles and opportunities fade. Yet, amidst the sadness, I’ve witnessed both my sons exit their club and flourish in unexpected ways. They’ve faced the disappointment head-on, they have grown from it, and found success in new clubs and environments that I hadn’t considered. They’ve excelled in places where their specific skills and abilities were sought, and they are thriving.
It’s saddening to think that many talented players don’t pursue their dreams further after setbacks, simply because they lack support, advice, direction, or knowledge about what could come next.
If there’s one piece of advice I can share, it’s that there is a big world out there. There are a wide variety of clubs with a range of needs in their squads and different pathways and philosophies. With support there are opportunities to be found, but you need to be proactive, curious, assertive, and resilient. For some families they will have the support of agents, but for many they are encouraged not to sign with agents until they are older, so when released at 16 they have no one to advise them about new clubs, how to arrange trials or to help them understand how you go about finding a new club.
The key thing is to research extensively, be open to different leagues, to new positions on the pitch and adapt to new environments. It’s important to work with the releasing club to benefit from the support they are mandated to provide and to ensure you can take full advantage of opportunities for trials, continued training, support with collating playing clips and creating connections with new clubs.
It’s a journey filled with challenges, but also with immense potential for growth and new beginnings. While regrets and ‘what-ifs’ may linger, embracing new starts and opportunities is essential and exciting, and with the right support and advice, it can deliver wonderful new opportunities.
To listen to more of Kate’s reflections on life as an academy parent click here
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