Premier League academies: The brutal release stories of Devonte Redmond and Owen Bailey | BBC Sport

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Football Focus presents Hidden Pressures. This short form documentary features our presenter and ex pro footballer Liam MacDevitt, who explores the 97% of players who come through the Premier League academy system but do not play a minute of top flight football.

He meets Devonte Redmond, who was released from Manchester United in 2018, finding out through Twitter, and Owen Bailey who was released from Newcastle United last year after suffering a long term injury.

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Crystal Palace have just become the first team to create a dedicated 3-year aftercare package for players released from their academy. 👏The programme will support released academy players to get back on their feet outside of football.

BBCSport
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I think every player released should be offered counselling and go through a step by step program of other options they can do. It would be such a small cost to the club compared to the amount spent on other things.

MichaelChisholmChizzieRascal
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I'm a former Australian under 16 18 and 23 international player. Had trials and contract discussions lined up with Leicester Newcastle and Blackburn. Was touted to be a success in the PL and was about to leave with high expectations. 2 weeks before I was due to leave I got injured badly and was told I'd never recover to play at that level again. Tried to make comebacks to no avail. I just wasnt the same player. 21 and it was all over. I'm 48 now and I still think more often than not about what might have been...

scottallan
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Went through the same thing here in sweden. But there’s hope! Now working at Nike hq in stockholm after 10 years not knowing what to do… great doc! Need a longer version of this type of documentary

BryanMassa
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Respect to Owen, he's suffered bad injuries and his positive attitude has given him the chance at Gateshead 👏👏🙏

hikerwoody
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I can relate to this so much, as I was released by a German 1st Bundesliga youth team at age 18. We never got any guidance or advice for the adult life and I always felt like I was just a number. It’s great seeing teams in England starting a Programm for this now! Should be mandatory for everyone.

sm
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Very depressing listening to this, losing everything especially with a career that requires focus and very demanding. What are shame, it’s scary .

samsantana
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Wow, that line from Owen’s mum really hits home. What a fantastic woman, every footballer should have a mum like that, released or not released. Love and support, whatever happens in life, helps you to take life’s knocks.

jasonsutton
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I was in the same situation and I completely turned my back on football the one thing I loved to do... its 20 years later and it still painful, these young men and women need help as part of a package with there clubs and should be offered years after they have been released. This kids give there life to there clubs, miss out on childhoods it's the least They can do!!!!

regoftherovers
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very similar situation to me. didnt pass medical cause they found a condition in my lungs and heart and they said they couldnt take the risk. trialled for alot of other clubs but just fell out of love with football. and got depressed. more needs to be done to help these boys who dont make it.

robneave
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Happend to my cousin, playd for manchester city for 13 years up until he was 21, played at the same age group as phil foden and sancho. Was the captain of under 18s and 21s however got released to Wolves, again still didnt get a game and now hes playing a notts county.

BoggsBuilds
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Fantastic segment. More of this kind of stuff please. Really great interviews from Liam MacDevitt.

bookerjam
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I think every academy player should have A Levels/BTECs provided for them by the club. They have given so much time to the club, the club should give them a chance to prepare in case they don't make it.

jackmason
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I’ve watched over the years where big clubs mop up all the talent at a young age purely with the view to hold onto the 1% and discard the rest just as your video shows with nothing to show or replace it with.
The onus must be on the teams to have a support mechanism in place to mentor not just the players they keep but as a duty of care to the ones they release.
Yes, football is a business but great businesses go above and beyond with support.

jimgavin
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I hope this very realistic video is shown far and wide and the people in positions of influence and relative power look at the reality and help young footballers who’ve lived and breathed football most of their young lives to see somehow, someway there is life after being released.

TheRussmey
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I'm a life-long united fan, I remember Redmond back in like 2015, I really liked him, especially when I was playing career mode, thought he would have a good future, but dang.. It was really sad to hear how he really felt about his release.

TommyReckx
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Hopefully 🙏🏻 these guys got the help to not sink into a deeper depression after they cannot pursue what they are good at.
Great video. More athletes need to see this.

chd
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This is a major major issue. It's literally all or nothing with football, there needs to be some kind of serious structural support to transition these people out of football or into lower leagues. Imagine dedicating your entire life to football only for it to shatter because of an injury that could happen to anyone.

SanRemoMotelBar
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Went through the same thing at Swindon town when Roy Evans was manager at the time. But never the less you bounce back and it makes you a stronger person.

theblackunicorn
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I’m glad this is being talked about now and wish it was talked about more. It’s not just football it’s a lot of sports. It’s hard to take especially when you don’t have a back up plan like a business or education. I wish all the lads and girls all the best who don’t make it for whatever reason.

dayumboydayum