We should support ex-academy footballers properly | Letter

OMG I'm so down with this initiative ! Think about it, young players pouring their heart & souls into football... only to be discarded like yesterday's trash It's a total bummer . We need to step up our game (pun intended) and provide them with the support they deserve . A coordinated effort from top-tier clubs & governing bodies is just what they need . Let's make sure those who've been left behind don't struggle anymore . It's time for empathy & understanding to take center stage !

I mean, think about it ... these kids spend years chasing their dreams, only to be thrown away like they're disposable trash . No wonder they end up in a mess, struggling to cope with rejection and trauma. It's not like they haven't been trained to perform on the pitch, but apparently, that's not enough to prepare them for life after football . The FA, Premier League, and EFL need to step up their game (pun intended) and invest in some actual support services for these kids. It's the least they can do after kicking them out of the academy system . I'm not buying that "postcode-dependent minefield" excuse either ... it's just a cop-out. The FA needs to take responsibility and provide some real help, or else we'll be seeing more young players losing themselves to this cruel system .

I think it's crazy how much pressure these young players are put under from a super young age . I mean, they're basically expected to make it to the top without even having finished secondary school, right? It's no wonder some of them end up struggling with mental health issues and turning to bad habits - they just can't handle the stress. And the support system is literally non-existent outside of the big clubs . We need to get serious about providing these kids with proper resources and guidance after they leave the academies, or else we're gonna be left with a bunch of broken young people .

Wow . This is so sad... I mean, these kids go through all that training and dedication only to be left with no support when they're released from the academy system? It's like, what even is the point of having an academy if you're just gonna throw them out without a safety net? We need better support systems in place, ASAP . I mean, mental health issues are serious business and we can't just ignore it anymore... Interesting

"They're not just footballers, they're human beings with mental health struggles "