Albion Centres of Excellence for Kids

[Mrs Coach]

I was told yesterday by a parent of a child who trains at the Centre of Excellence, Worthing that the Eastbourne site is the 'poor cousin', with less communication, opportunities etc and they only operate that site 'because they have to, with the 1 hour from the site rule'.

I'd be very suprised if this is the case? Surely the Eastbourne/Hastings area also comes into the Gillingham catchment area, so it should have equally high standards/support to ensure they dont lose the best kids? I was really shocked by this opinion, but something must have given him that impression?

 

[1066gull]

I've said it before on here, and there isn't really as much support of the club this side, and football as a whole compared to the Worthing side which is the backbone of our support/interest.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

I've said it before on here, and there isn't really as much support of the club this side, and football as a whole compared to the Worthing side which is the backbone of our support/interest.

It has got absolutely nothing to do with support. A centre of excellence is about finding the next Adam Virgo or Dan Harding.

Plus, I would imagine that Brighton & Hove is the backbone of our support!

That does sound strange, Mrs Coach. I would have thought they would both be of equal importance, assuming this lady is not speculating.

 

[BigGully]

They have the same standards.........but the Worthing site seems to have more of the actual managers of the age groups as their coaches, which may be an advantage to the Worthing boys.

However any talented boys on the Eastbourne/Hastings side would have as much an opportunity as any.

The Centres are not the critical point, the talent of the player most definately is.

Either way Brighton would not wish to lose any talented youngsters.

 

[paul1960]

Centre of Excellence

Quite right if the boys are good enough the albion will take them no matter which centre they are at.

Out of the 8 scholarships offered this year 5 came from the Eastbourne centre Mrs Coach.

 

[Biscuit]

My lil cousin plays for the girls team! Shes a midfield general!

 

[Mrs Coach]

Re: Centre of Excellence

Quite right if the boys are good enough the albion will take them no matter which centre they are at.

Out of the 8 scholarships offered this year 5 came from the Eastbourne centre Mrs Coach.

That's good to know. Thank you.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Re: Centre of Excellence

Quite right if the boys are good enough the albion will take them no matter which centre they are at.

True, but you also need to attract the boys with the best facilities and chances on offer. If this was a general consensus then surely there would be a potential to lose out on those that are placed in the middle of various academies (Gillingham etc.).

 

[Mrs Coach]

Re: Re: Centre of Excellence

True, but you also need to attract the boys with the best facilities and chances on offer. If this was a general consensus then surely there would be a potential to lose out on those that are placed in the middle of various academies (Gillingham etc.).

Exactly. My boy has been offered trials at two other clubs in our area, but being Albion through and through, he was happy to stay at Eastbourne, but if only the Worthing boys got the opportunities (as this Worthing child's parent said), I'd have to re-think his placement but reassuringly, that doesn't seem to be the experience or opinion of others on here. Thank you for putting my mind at rest.

 

[BigGully]

Re: Re: Re: Centre of Excellence

Exactly. My boy has been offered trials at two other clubs in our area, but being Albion through and through, he was happy to stay at Eastbourne, but if only the Worthing boys got the opportunities (as this Worthing child's parent said), I'd have to re-think his placement but reassuringly, that doesn't seem to be the experience or opinion of others on here. Thank you for putting my mind at rest.

Both Centres facility wise are of the same quality, probably the facility at Eastbourne is superiour as it is the newest centre.

The coaches at Eastbourne will assess to the same criteria as their colleagues in Worthing.

I beleive David Jupp oversees things at the Eastbourne Centre, whilst also being present on a Monday night at the Worthing Centre.

He with the help of all the other coaches will assess any potential players from either Centre.

 

[magoo]

How do you get trials at these centre's of excellence by the way?

 

[Brovion]

How do you get trials at these centre's of excellence by the way?

Effectively by invitation. The club watch all the local boys' teams and then do a first trawl round of the promising players at about age 8.

Obviously sometimes promising 8 year olds don't 'train on' (to use a horseracing term) and get let go. Conversely other boys improve with age and get picked up. It is a bit of a revolving door though, loads of boys in each Year group get signed at some time but only a few eventually get offered Scholarships. Then of those even fewer get offered pro deals at the end of their scholarship. Well that used to be the case, although for the last two years of course for the scholar 'graduations' most of them were offered pro deals.

 

[magoo]

i see, cheers.

 

[Gordon the Gopher]

How do you get trials at these centre's of excellence by the way?

I'm a teacher and I tend to give the club a ring whenever I see someone who has a bit more than the average kiddie and then Martin Hinshelwood will come down (or send someone down) to assess the kids further. They then ring me at work and offer an official invite via the school. I then ring the parents and it's up to them whether they turn up or not on the Monday nights. You'll always recognise the Albion kids as they're forced to wear a shirt and tie. Trouble is that not all local teachers are as proactive as me as I've heard of quite a few kids being poached by Portsmouth or Southampton over that way!

 

[BigGully]

I'm a teacher and I tend to give the club a ring whenever I see someone who has a bit more than the average kiddie and then Martin Hinshelwood will come down (or send someone down) to assess the kids further. They then ring me at work and offer an official invite via the school. I then ring the parents and it's up to them whether they turn up or not on the Monday nights. You'll always recognise the Albion kids as they're forced to wear a shirt and tie. Trouble is that not all local teachers are as proactive as me as I've heard of quite a few kids being poached by Portsmouth or Southampton over that way!

I think that is a helpful way to support the club and any prospective players, however I am a little surprise that they then ask you to invite the child to the Centre of Excellence, rather than themselves making direct contact.

Depending on the age of the children you teach and train, in the slightly older age groups of 12-15 there becomes less surprises and Martin Hinshelwood probably knows most of the promising youngsters in Sussex by then.

It is a little bit of a myth that many of Sussex's youngsters are being snapped up by Pompey and Southampton ahead of Brighton.

There have been examples where within the young age groups of say 7-12 that has happened a few times, but generally by the older age groups Brighton are left with the most talented players from this area.

 

[magoo]

I'm a teacher and I tend to give the club a ring whenever I see someone who has a bit more than the average kiddie and then Martin Hinshelwood will come down (or send someone down) to assess the kids further. They then ring me at work and offer an official invite via the school. I then ring the parents and it's up to them whether they turn up or not on the Monday nights. You'll always recognise the Albion kids as they're forced to wear a shirt and tie. Trouble is that not all local teachers are as proactive as me as I've heard of quite a few kids being poached by Portsmouth or Southampton over that way!

Thanks, I'm not sure that happens at his school but I will investigate.

 

[Tiptop24]

Virgs and Harding didnt go through the Centre of Excellence.

 

[Woodchip]

Virgs and Harding didnt go through the Centre of Excellence.

Did he say they did? I certainly can't see it.

 

[Tiptop24]

We played on the same county team. Virgs got offered along for a 2 week trial for the u18s. within the 2 weeks MA had offered him a 3 yr contract.
Harding was also in the county team. Therefore, as Albion players are not allowed to represent the county, he was not signed by them prior.

 

[BigGully]

We played on the same county team. Virgs got offered along for a 2 week trial for the u18s. within the 2 weeks MA had offered him a 3 yr contract.
Harding was also in the county team. Therefore, as Albion players are not allowed to represent the county, he was not signed by them prior.

Not correct, I am afraid.

At any stage of signing for a club's Centre of Excellence you are allowed to play for both your School teams and Schools/County representative sides.

Its actually in the rules of Academy and Centre of Excellence's.

You are not permitted to play for your Sunday Club Side.

Your version of Virgo seems unlikely, Harding was recommended by an associate of the club when he was about 14 I seem to remember.

But the 2 week trial when Virgo was 18 and then a 3 year contract, sounds wide of the mark.