Good Lads Play Football

On the sidelines I meet Arnie the coach. "What do you teach the kids?", I ask. âWe teach them how to be nice ladsâ, he replies. âThey have to respect the ball and the game. They have to respect the coach, the referee, and the lads they play with". Football clubs` academies are good arenas for the examination of that change as they are aiming not only to produce professional football players, but also to educate the young boys to be the model of an English gentlemen. During the 2007-08 football season, the author of this book visited the football academies of Arsenal and Chelsea once or twice a week. She watched the children play, talked to their parents and interviewed coaches and managers. No one has ever before conducted an in-depth research of this kind in English football academies. This book, therefore, gives a unique glance to the pitches that will change the face of English national pride.