Jerez Industrial

[soggy biscuit]

Didn't realise that Glenn Hoddle managed a team playing in the 4th tier of Spanish football.

8 of the starting XI last week were English or Northern Irish.

[Stranded]

Isn't it just the club attached to his academy that gives young players released by clubs another chance to break in to the pro game?

[Ferris]

I knew he had some kind of academy out in Spain. How are they getting on?

[Stranded]

Looking at their official website it doesn't mention Hoddle having any role at all - unless I've missed something.

[southbank1871]

Found this:

http://www.glennhoddleacademy.com/gha_e ... eague.html

[Barry the bird boggler]

The Glenn Hoddle Academy, professional football development centre has continued its unique development opportunities for aspiring professional footballers, by taking over the football management of a Spanish league club as the Spanish season kicks off.

Following a close relationship last season which saw eight GHA players join Jerez Industrial on professional contracts, this season all players for Jerez Industrial are members of the Glenn Hoddle Academy, with the GHA coaches working with a new Spanish head coach, to manage the team in the league.

The move, which places academy players directly in to the first team, saved the club from collapse by providing a full professional squad of players, available immediately, to replace the players lost last season, which left the club on the brink of collapse.

Players at the Glenn Hoddle Academy now have a unique platform to continue their work full-time at the academy, and at the same time play in a competitive league with matches every week in a season that runs through until May 2011.

The new Jerez Industrial squad is made up of two Spanish players as well as 20 players released from British clubs and ensures that the Academy players experience regular Spanish league football as part of their development.

Players that returned to the academy this season have all registered with the club, and will not only benefit from full-time development programmes personally tailored for them by Glenn Hoddle, but also the chance to play in front of a very enthusiastic and vocal crowd, who have shown their support by welcoming the new players with open arms.

Glenn Hoddle said: “This has been something I have been working towards for some time, and although this new direction was earlier than I predicted, the concept of working so closely with Jerez Industrial provides a great opportunity for our players. They will continue their development at the academy and also experience life playing for a professional club with weekly first team fixtures that will see us travel across the south of Spain.

“All of the current squad have registered with the club and they are keen to perform and make the most of this new opportunity, showcasing their talent every week in the games, which are followed closely by a passionate supporter base here in the south of Spain.

“This really is a new concept, we have basically saved the club by providing them with a complete squad of players, ensuring not only that the club survives, but has a realistic chance of doing very well in the league.

“Our lads play against Spanish league sides week in, week out, while continuing their development at the academy. They have taken to this very well and I am sure they will use it as a springboard to move on in their professional careers when the transfer window opens and closes”.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

http://www.glennhoddleacademy.com/danie ... ofile.html

Daniel Spence who was released by us.

http://www.glennhoddleacademy.com/harri ... ofile.html

Harrison Bayley.

[Y21_Royal]

Sounds like a really good idea.

Did I read somewhere a while back that one of these youngsters graduated from the academy and signed for Sevilla?

[prostak]

This guy. I don't think there's been many going on to play professionally yet - ex-Man Utd youth player Chris Fagan played for Lincoln for a bit but got released this summer. Nice idea from that awful man but can't help think these players don't make it for a reason.

[Stranded]

Lots of players get released though and get picked up by other clubs at some point - David Platt for example was released for a reason by Man Utd but went on to have an excellent career after rebuilding it lower down the leagues and coming back.

If this gives some players (and I guess the academy has trials to guarantee a standard) a way back in then it can only be good.

[The whole year inn]

Lots of players get released though and get picked up by other clubs at some point - David Platt for example was released for a reason by Man Utd but went on to have an excellent career after rebuilding it lower down the leagues and coming back.

This really is not the same thing. David Platt did that in the mid-80's!

From what I gather all these guys cannot find clubs in the UK so fly out and hope GH works some sort of Eileen Drury magic on their career?

[Stranded]

Yes but what I'm saying is it's just another way of trying to do what he did. It's also just a different way as compared to say dropping into non-league and trying to get back in.

Players will go to this academy knowing they will play to a decent level with better coaching than they would get elsewhere whilst also being pushed in front of more scouts etc than they probably would elsewhere.

[papereyes]

I think they tend to be smaller players (and that informed their rejection) and they're being given a chance in a different culture.

They do regular games within the academy which apparently get lots of scouts down to watch.

[Arch]

The "success stories" all seem to have exactly the same basic profile (and ambitions) as the other players. Where's the success?

[RoyalChicagoFC]

That shows up in the form of getting to spend a portion of your down time banging Spanish broads, which can't be entirely a bad thing