JONATHAN NORTH juggles being a university student with playing semi-pro for Wealdstone United. But previously he was a professional at Watford. He asks if kids reaching for the stars at pro academies are truly readied for a life without football.

PROFESSIONAL football academies in England are forever being scrutinised. Are they doing enough to produce the future stars of world football? How is it that academies in Spain consistently produce more skilful players than English academies?One thing that seems to slip under the radar is the question of what happens to the boys who don&r...