SMFC Teams @ U10s, 11s, 12s, 13s, 14s, 15s, 16s, Girls U16s & Seniors Men.

For many youth football clubs nowadays the emphasis is very much on young players ‘getting signed’ or ‘turning pro’, with coaches selling a dream that effectively doesn’t exist. While some of these clubs have a high turnover of boys gaining entry into pro-club academies, the stark reality remains that statistically only 1 out of every 100 players actually signed to an academy will go on to play professionally at any level, from the Premier League down to the National League. And whilst several boys and girls have actually progressed into academies and centres of excellence from the SMP, gaining scholarships and even contracts in some instances, we have also witnessed first-hand the often devastating impact being released from academies can have on young players. The Project Manager was a registered Premier League scout with a London club, covering the Lambeth area for 10 years, so we have a thorough understanding of how academies and scouting networks operate.

Of particular concern to us is the fact that an increasing number of parents and guardians who can ill afford to do so are being persuaded to part with hundreds of pounds in fees to some youth football clubs in pursuit of this elusive ‘dream’. We are therefore all the more proud that our annual signing-on fee has remained steady at £10 since the creation of SMFC in the 2005 – 06 season. We effectively only ask people to cover our insurance, and league and F.A admin costs. It is unfortunate that more and more parents seem to view the selection of a club for their child as some sort of shopping expedition. They appear to be misguided in their belief that the more they pay, the better the ‘product’ and  subsequently the greater the chances of their child ‘turning pro’ one day. It is also sadly true that the vast  majority of youth football clubs calling themselves ‘Elite Academies’ are neither elite nor academies.

At SMP, our firm, yet simple, belief is that youth football should be about young players of all abilities coming together and enjoying their football as a team and as friends – win, lose or draw. As it becomes ever harder to compete with the so-called elite teams, it is a matter of absolute pride to us that our teams are still more than able to hold their own in our league and beyond.  That said, if all you’re interested in is winning at all costs and getting signed, then we are probably not the club for you.

For any players who we do believe might have a genuine chance of succeeding long-term at academy level, we have direct referral pathways into Crystal Palace F.C, Tooting & Mitcham United F.C and AFC Wimbledon Ladies F.C. However, we will always take the long-term view and never send players in just for the sake of it in the hope that one might get signed.