Danny Green is a great friend of my daughters fiancé, i was supposed to meet him on Sunday but couldn't get to Crowborough where they were playing in a charity celebrity match.
Weird how both Green and Wagstaff both dropped into non league at quite a young age.
I don't think its weird
Wagstaff was a L1 regular until 2020 (when he was only 30). Since then, each season he's dropped a division, so that he's now dropped 3 divisions in 3 seasons. That is unusual.
Weird how both Green and Wagstaff both dropped into non league at quite a young age.
I don't think its weird
Wagstaff was a L1 regular until 2020 (when he was only 30). Since then, each season he's dropped a division, so that he's now dropped 3 divisions in 3 seasons. That is unusual.
I think that the ego of a lot of footballers actually stop them from doing that - there are only so many places in the football league after all and playing in the Championship is a long way divorced from non league. Recently, we had the example of Dale Stephens who thought that, on leaving Burnley, he would get a Championship club. Rather than find his actual level he chose to hang his boots up. Of course, Stephens is probably in a stronger financial position to make that call than Wagstaff.
Equally, any number of apprentices/academy players never play football of any description once they are released from a pro club. Either because they've fallen out of love with the game having battled for over a decade to "make it" or because they can't accept that their dream is over. I've seen it in cricket. A lad who was dropped from the first team at his club, just a year after being in the England U19 squad, stopped playing at the end of that season and has never played cricket since. And that really is so sad.
My regular question to Charlton players were: "who else in your age group year made it as Professional footballers."
Lyle Taylor couldn't think of anyone when he was 16 and at Millwall. *Wiggins struggled to recall any Palace boys of the same age. Igor Vetokele in Europe and JFC couldn't at Brighton but did say he played with Harry Kane for a young England team.
Charlton have a higher rate than most clubs for their 16 to 18 year old 'making it'.
The drop out rate was and is so high. Last season 21/22 I watched plenty of Ex academy players plus Pros in the Kent League and Isthmian SE leagues and saw some Forwards earning £400-600 for playing at that low level. Whereas Young 17-18 year old released from pro clubs just about earning their petrol money but hoping for a second chance higher up as scouts do attend these matches.
*Rhoys Wiggins told me at the Valley six months after he retired at 30 that the injury he had with Palace when on a youth tour in the USA made him believe he would never play at the highest level ! It always makes me think that we never know what underlying injuries players have? Premier club medicals are more stringent and to pass one at Man city you have to be a super athlete as well as super skilful.
Chris Solly is another example of a player who had a fine career at Cafc including the Championship but his knee issues stopped him getting the Premier move.
Very pleased to see that Scott won player of the year at The Angels. I live in Tonbridge, so the Angels are my local club. I have seen a few games this season and Scott seemed to do a good job in central midfield. Things seem to be on the up at Tonbridge and having a 4G AstroTurf pitch is a big improvement and allows for better football. They only just missed out on the playoffs, so a good season. I hope Waggy stays with them for another year.
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Hoping to catch up with him soon.
Perhaps we should rename it The Jolly Nice Charlton Chaps game
Equally, any number of apprentices/academy players never play football of any description once they are released from a pro club. Either because they've fallen out of love with the game having battled for over a decade to "make it" or because they can't accept that their dream is over. I've seen it in cricket. A lad who was dropped from the first team at his club, just a year after being in the England U19 squad, stopped playing at the end of that season and has never played cricket since. And that really is so sad.
Lyle Taylor couldn't think of anyone when he was 16 and at Millwall. *Wiggins struggled to recall any Palace boys of the same age. Igor Vetokele in Europe and JFC couldn't at Brighton but did say he played with Harry Kane for a young England team.
Charlton have a higher rate than most clubs for their 16 to 18 year old 'making it'.
The drop out rate was and is so high. Last season 21/22 I watched plenty of Ex academy players plus Pros in the Kent League and Isthmian SE leagues and saw some Forwards earning £400-600 for playing at that low level. Whereas Young 17-18 year old released from pro clubs just about earning their petrol money but hoping for a second chance higher up as scouts do attend these matches.
*Rhoys Wiggins told me at the Valley six months after he retired at 30 that the injury he had with Palace when on a youth tour in the USA made him believe he would never play at the highest level !
It always makes me think that we never know what underlying injuries players have?
Premier club medicals are more stringent and to pass one at Man city you have to be a super athlete as well as super skilful.
Chris Solly is another example of a player who had a fine career at Cafc including the Championship but his knee issues stopped him getting the Premier move.