Recently released former City Youth player passes away.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football ... s-22903539

Reports circulating that he was suffering depression after being released by City and as a result he's committed suicide at just 17

[ClaretTony]

Dreadful news, absolutely dreadful.

[Vino blanco]

The extremely sad side of the beautiful game.

[ksrclaret]

Absolutely awful. Feels like it's occurring more and more often. Was told about a similar story concerning a young lad I used to teach last week.

[Pimlico_Claret]

On a very similar par with child prodigies in various spheres of the entertainment industry from way back, and current vacuous reality TV shows. There appears to be very little after care if things go wrong.
I know of several kids who are currently contracted to either Premier or Championship league clubs, all under the age of 10.Parents are understandably excited at the prospect of their child becoming the next big star , but I never get the impression they are told how to deal with something like this.
Time the clubs invested in the necessary welfare schemes for these lads.

[tiger76]

Terrible tale RIP to the young chap.

On a wider note yes clubs do need to take responsibility and be aware that for every kid that makes it to a professional career, many others will not make the grade for a variety of reasons, and there needs to be a full back plan for them.

Education and learning different skills has to be at the forefront of this strategy surely, because if a youngster is released at a tender age, and they have no formal qualifications, or other work experience to enable them to move in their future careers, then sadly they will feel a failure rightly or wrongly.

I do wonder if the pressure is worse in the social media age, this doesn't just apply to football you could make the same arguments in say acting, dance or even music, how many gifted prodigies fall off the rails and go down a wrong path, and that even includes many who even enjoy success in their chosen field.

[Foulthrow]

It’s a real concern is this. The failure rate at football academies must be about 99%. Are the clubs preparing these boys, and their parents, for that? Surely the clubs have a duty of care that goes beyond simply milking thousands of young people on an unachievable dream? We’ve seen investigations into reality tv for the potential problems it can cause - should this be next?

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Terrible tale RIP to the young chap.

On a wider note yes clubs do need to take responsibility and be aware that for every kid that makes it to a professional career, many others will not make the grade for a variety of reasons, and there needs to be a full back plan for them.

Education and learning different skills has to be at the forefront of this strategy surely, because if a youngster is released at a tender age, and they have no formal qualifications, or other work experience to enable them to move in their future careers, then sadly they will feel a failure rightly or wrongly.

I do wonder if the pressure is worse in the social media age, this doesn't just apply to football you could make the same arguments in say acting, dance or even music, how many gifted prodigies fall off the rails and go down a wrong path, and that even includes many who even enjoy success in their chosen field.

I took a tour of the Etihad a few years back and they do educate the kids, all clubs with academies do nowadays.

Utd even send the kids to specific schools.

I think its probably the pressure more than anything else that gets to some.
The fear of failure, letting family down etc.

[BurnleyFC]

This is a terribly sad story.

RIP, young man.

[Ashingtonclaret46]

Very sad story. R.I.P. Jeremy Wisten.

[Quickenthetempo]

The way academies treat young kids is appalling.

The stories you here from parents (our club included) is both heart breaking and horrible.

I was told our club were to allow kids on the books to still play with their mates at weekends or for school. Which is a massive step in the right direction for keeping kids happy.
But I don't know if it was implemented.

Rest in peace young man.

[Awayfromburnley]

I maintain the line i have for years.

You don't have academies for potential doctors, architects or such. Why for football?

Kids are ultimately commodities and traded and treated as such. Quite often childhoods are overtaken and it is wrong in my eyes.

RIP young man.

[BOYSIE31]

awful news