Lower Leagues The Future Of Premier League

A recent BBC report suggests that Premier League clubs are becoming more reluctant to give their academy graduates a chance in their first team. Instead, big money has been spent in signing players from abroad to prop up their teams. However, with financial fair play regulations preventing clubs from buying trophies, teams will have to look elsewhere for their talent.

The BBC report states that a mere 11.7% of top-flight players graduated from their academy meaning a lot of youth players were released before getting a chance to shine. As a result, the players drop down the leagues and are snapped up by non-league clubs. The world of semi-pro football really isn’t for everyone though. It requires great determination and resilience to ply your trade in often poor conditions, balancing it alongside your daily job. However, for a select few, the non-league is the start of a long path back to the top of the football ladder.

The likes of Jamie Vardy, Rickie Lambert and Chris Smalling are evidence that being released by your club doesn’t mark the end of your career. They all made their way back up the footballing ladder and our now considered top-flight professionals. We take a look at two of these names who are now considered the future of English football.

Chris Smalling

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The Manchester United center back is now a pivotal player for his club but was initially been rejected by Millwall as a youth prospect. He then signed for Maidstone United where he established himself as a first team regular. Smalling was clearly too good for this level and was spotted by Middlesbrough after only 12 games for Maidstone.

His time with Boro was not a successful one so it was Fulham who finally gave the defender his big break. His potential and ability to play at the top level was obvious and Manchester United won the race to sign him. The commanding leader is now forging an exciting international and domestic career.

Jamie Vardy

Jamie Vardy. Credit Wikimedia Commons. /

This season’s surprise package is another of the non-league gems which were found just in time. He’s now hot property and looks like being the future of the English national team but this wasn’t always the case. Before all the glowing praise, Jamie was struggling away in the English non-league.

After being released by Sheffield Wednesday as a teenager, Vardy signed for Stocksbridge Park Steels. He spent three successful seasons at the club and began to get noticed by Football League clubs. After a lot of attention, the striker finally signed for Halifax Town and from their went on to Fleetwood Town. With his new club, Vardy won Conference Player of the year and his true potential began to shine through. Leicester City won the race to sign the forward and did so with a £1 million bid, a record for a non-league player. With Leicester, the Yorkshire boy flourished and he is now only one goal away from breaking the Premier League’s consecutive scoring record.

These two names were once unknown, considered not good enough for top-flight football. How wrong people were… Both players stuck with it and were given another chance to break through. They cost their clubs relatively little but both are now invaluable members of their team. Smalling has now settled at United and finally looks good enough to forge a career at such a famous club. Vardy is only beginning to have his big break but the future looks promising. If he keeps his feet firmly on the ground and keeps hold onto that steely grit, he will only keep on impressing us.

Premier League Clubs should use the non-leagues more. They are breeding grounds for hungry and talented players who all have something to prove. Uncovering a gem is so beneficial to the club, both in terms of football and business. So, who will be the next non-league sensation?

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