Scouts search for Kentish talent - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS

Thursday 05th October 2006

The Hop Farm Country Park in Paddock Wood are working closely with Kent County Council and the Kent County Football Association development team to bring an exclusive new football event to the county later this month, writes Stephen McCartney.

Scouts from Charlton Athletic, Millwall, Gillingham, West Ham United, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace will be casting their eye on Kentish talent.

Marie Wallace, from The Hop Farm, spoke EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk: “Premiership scouts and professional football stars will help us source the footballers of the future with an exciting knockout style tournament for talented girls and boys in school years 2 to 8.

“This is a unique opportunity for young talent to showcase their skills in front of high profile professionals.

“MSporti Professional coaches will each select up to 15 players in set age ranges for a warm up and skills training session followed by a minimum of three matches to asses each player’s ability.

“Scouts from Premiership clubs will be in attendance to asses the performances and select the players who will progress to the various stages of the event.”

The knockout stages take place during 23-25 October, with finals day being held on Thursday, 26 October.

Ms Wallace said: “The most talented players in each age group will be selected to return free of charge for an exciting day of Finals and football personalities on Thursday 26 October when Premiership footballers will be awarding the final players from each age range individual players and singing autographs,

“There are potential academy places at top Premiership clubs for exceptional talent!”

The event will also include sports exhibitors, trade stands and football related entertainment for the whole family.

Full access to The Hop Farm Country Park visitor attraction is available for both players and spectators to ensure an enjoyable day out for parents and siblings alike.

The Hop Farm is a well-known event venue hosting more than 30 shows each year. The event will be well promoted across the county with an aim to attract up to 800 players each day, giving participants the perfect platform to show off their talents.

A limited number of places are available each day in each group. All players must pre-register on line at www.thehopfarm.co.uk.

The registration fee is £10 per player, inclusive of one accompanying adult. An adult must accompany all entrants.

Further adult & children’s entry to the event & Hop Farm attraction will be at the regular price & include all half term activity events.

Any queries please contact Marie Wallace, and mention that you read is article on www.kentishfootball.co.uk. Her details are: Email: marie@thehopfarm.co.uk Tel: 01622 870 828.

However, Adam Heaslewood, whose company Valsport is the main kit supplier to the event, has warned youngsters that there is life in non-league football if they don’t become the next David Beckham.

Heaslewood, whose the player-assistant manager at Kent League side Slade Green, explained what will happen at The Hop Farm later this month.

He said: “The event is open to all children from Kent aged between 7 and 13 and is based on a Football Icon type of concept.

“Basically kids register and get split into teams by age group and position go off with a specific coach and do some drills and play in a couple of games.

“The coach will assess the children and mark them on certain criteria. If the child is successful they will be invited back to the finals day on Thursday 26 October.

“At the event all local professional clubs have been invited to talent spot and see if there are any players they may want to take.

Heaslewood revealed what would happen on Finals Day, adding: “The children will play in a game and the eventual winner from each group will be chosen and given prizes.”

Heaslewood, the managing director of Valsport, is providing the footballs, bibs, final team jersey’s and prizes.

The 33-year-old had to recover from the shock of being released by Peterborough United at the age of 19, by their youth team manager and Mark Lawrenson.

“I was obviously disappointed with the fact that I was not going to be taken on,” Heaslewood recalled.

“But I had my parents who made sure I kept an open mind and have other options available to me.

“The club advised me to try to find another club, keep plugging away and let them know where I was playing so they could still keep an eye on my progression.”

But Heaslewood, who was working part-time at a Leisure Centre, had something to fall back on when he was released by the London Road club.

“At the time I had done some part-time work at a Leisure Centre so I managed to go full-time there and assess my situation,” he said.

“I joined a local semi-professional club and then applied to go and work for Camp America over the summer.

“It was there that I managed to get myself a scholarship to a college in the United States.

“I came back for a year and then went back in 1993 to the camp and straight on to college.

“When I graduated from college I returned to the UK and moved to Beckenham. I contacted Bromley FC and went to train with them.

“The reserve team manager picked me for the Saturday game. I started, scored and we won 1-0 in the cup at Hayes Lane.

“But it didn’t work out there for me so I then contacted Peter Palmer at Beckenham Town and got a very warm reception from them and it just seemed right, so that’s where I really started down here.”

Heaslewood, however, warned youngsters to keep their eyes wide open and don’t expect to make it as a highly-paid Premiership star.

“It is only a small minority of players that go from Academy level to make a full-time living from the game,” he warns.

“That’s why it is vital that they have an education to full back on.

“I was very lucky in the fact that my parents kept on at me to study and wouldn’t let me slack.

“I am not saying for one minute I would of made it, but it could have been so easy for me to neglect studying whilst I was at Peterborough and then it would have limited my opportunities once I got released.”

Here in Kent, Heaslewood enjoyed plenty of success whilst playing for Cray Wanderers in the Kent and Ryman Leagues.

He added: “I am lucky that I have been with a successful team with Cray Wanderers and won things at the level I played. It’s not the highest level but it was successful.”