To outsiders who pick them in FIFA, Football Manager or fantasy league teams, they are living the dream.
But while the glamour and hype around a professional footballer’s lifestyle continues to grow, so does the pressure.
Great riches bring great expectations - from employers, team-mates and supporters.
And, at some point up ahead for all players, lies the uncertainty or retirement and the prospect - perhaps - of life in a “real job”.
In the second addition of a six part series, safc.com continues to look at the goings on behind the scenes at Sunderland’s Academy of Light and examines the true extent to which the scholarship programme is a worthwhile asset.
The culture
With players exposed to the media’s gaze from a young age, pressure, and pressure to perform comes at such an early age.
However, it has been claimed that footballers often put on a bravado as they don’t want to be shunned or ridiculed by fellow professionals or the general public, for admitting their struggles.
And this can often lead to issues such as depression, gambling and alcoholism which are all examples of things that have overshadowed by the beautiful game in recent years.
“It’s a Premier League requirement that we must provide scholars with certain life skill sessions,” revealed Don Peattie, head of education and Welfare at Sunderland, who helps to implement the club’s life skill sessions depending on the needs of the players.
“Essentially they are training to be footballers which hopefully will become their trade, but as part of their NVQ level three, they will do their FA Level 2 coaching certificate and we tap into a lot of life skill sessions put on by the Premier League.
“This ranges from such things as financial planning and management, mental health awareness, sex education, advanced driving, appropriate use of the internet and social media.
“These issues are becoming increasingly important topics around football and it’s vital we offer sessions, such as mental health, so that players can gain an understanding about it and know where to go should they ever need help.”
Progression
However, besides acting as a support network to prepare players for the life surrounding a professional footballer, the scholarship encompasses an education component of around 9-10 hours per week.
“The club is very supportive, both Ged McNamee (academy manager) and Elliott Dickman (assistant academy manager) are excellent and they value education very highly so it’s never really an issue because the lads know what our expectations are in terms of their education, study in general and our overall expectations in terms of standards and behaviour.
“With regards to the scholars they leave school at 16 having done their GCSE’s, and they undertake a minimum two-year advanced apprenticeship.
“Most scholars up and down the country at various Premier League clubs will do the BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Sport (Performance and Excellence).
“That is the recognised pathway for most scholars. However, we recognise that this programme isn’t for everyone and currently Alex Storey and Adam Bale – two of our current second-year scholars – are taking an ‘A’ Level programme. Alex is studying Physics and Maths and Adam is studying English Language and English Literature with tutors from East Durham College.”
