Turning Pro By “Shout”

To be a professional,
You need to be an exceptional footballer. There are plenty of "pretty good" players out there, but you can't afford to be one of them. The bottom line is, if you're great, you'll make it, you won’t need to go searching for it.

Be the master before moving up the soccer ladder, you need to be the top performer on the level you are currently playing at. And you need to prove it in games. Practice skills individually, work on fitness and do whatever you have to develop your technical ability. Work on being consistent and prove week in & week out you’re the top performer.

Expand your scope gradually
Everybody is looking for a shortcut to getting signed by a professional club. In practice, you won't go far unless you have a rounded experience of amateur football. Start with your local amateur league and make yourself well known as the best player in your position, only those who remain grounded & consistently the best may get the chance. Constantly seek advice from coaches, request extra training, work tirelessly on weaknesses. The best players in the world practise every day of the week, learning never stops, plenty of ‘will’ ‘desire’ & ‘courage’ will be required.

You will find your level
Most players find there level and there should never be disappointment as long as you play to that level, many players become disillusioned but this often stems from misguidance. Ability & commitment will dictate the level at which you will play so go out and enjoy the game.


Plymouth Argyle Apprentice List.

1. Oliver Chenoweth age 16 from Liskard
2. Liam Head age 16 from Bovey Tracey
3. Sean Kinsella age 16 from Staffordshire
4. Ryan Leanord age 16 from Plympton
5. Ciaran Levet age 16 from Yeovil
6. Jordan Trot age 16 from Plymouth
7. Chinua Troupe age 16 from Birmingham 8. Ashley Hodkinson age 17 from Staffordshire 2nd Year
9. Ben Gerring age 17 from Torquay 2nd year 10. Ryan Brett age 17 From Plymouth 2nd year
11. Lewis Edwards age 17 From Plymouth 2nd year 12. Brain McCaul age 17 From Belfast 2nd year
13. Greg Moseley age 17 from Derbyshire 2nd year 14. Joe Mason age 17 from Plymouth 2nd year
15. Josh Grant age 17 from Cornwall 2nd year

Torquay Utd and Exeter City don’t currently have any Apprentices, Plymouth take 6/7 a year and 3 are normally from outside the West Country. There are 1795 yr 8 player (for example) currently playing in Devon on Saturdays or Sundays, slightly less numbers in Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset, so between 5000 & 6000 boys vying for four spots. Plymouth have signed on 6 apprentices to Professional forms over the last four years which two have played first team football and one sold. Neither player currently plays first team football today.

“Shout” It’s a tough world. the figures should not dampen your
dreams but prepare you for the hard work ahead, the
hill is very steep & very few reach the top.