I think Matt Dean probably meant that you need to look at the wider social and personal benefits of academies, rather than just the miniscule chance of a player signing a professional contract. For example, teaching youngsters to keep fit and active, as well as learning basic transferable skills like following instructions, learning how to deal with setbacks, empathising with others and so on, ‘soft’ skills but important ones, which will stay with them a lifetime.
Many of the kids passing through academies aren’t the most successful at school and often come from disadvantaged families where these skills aren’t sufficiently developed. But, learning them through football gives them a chance to grow in ways they may not have done otherwise.
Clubs have a broader social and sporting responsibility to their communities than just providing a match every other Saturday. This was part of sport’s original mission, before it became a business. Academies are one way in which they still fulfil these, and as such they’re a valuable community asset.
