History for 20 Legend

Wellington College - love the place but they ruined my football career. I arrived year 11, so the middle of high school. I went from a select few in my club's academy to not even making WC's JPL team. The trial was probables vs possibles and I was new to the school was placed in the possibles team. Well if you're an attacking player on a team that's severely outclassed then you don't have much hope looking good in a one off trial. Unfortunately at that age I was too naive to just return to the club.

After that, probably due the fact I wasn't overly loud and brash, didn't really have a sporting family to tap on anyone's shoulder, and my last name wasn't also the last name of the guy that owned the Phoenix at the time, I fell into obscurity. Player of the year and golden boot for various teams followed but there was absolutely no care in the world beyond the school's special few.

In my final year of college after being snubbed for the first team after a very successful previous year I threw it all in and played social. I did the same for a few years of University. After finally returning to football I through some friends at Uni I became an occasional central league starter. After more than a few years break playing completely social football and without any decent coaching for the whole of my teens I don't think that's a bad achievement.

What could've been if from year 11 to the first few years of university if I was less naive? Who knows...

/rant

Anyhow... the point of that was to say if I did it all again I wouldn't give a damn about the school. If you're at a place that appreciates you then stick with it. School's footballing systems - like most things in life - are just another case of who you know not what you know. At least with a club you've had half your life developing those relationships.

I suppose that is less about "elite" players and more about the players one tier down. But there's some 2 cents for the evening.

Wellington College - love the place but they ruined my football career. I arrived year 11, so the middle of high school. I went from a select few in my club's academy to not even making WC's JPL team. The trial was probables vs possibles and I was new to the school was placed in the possibles team. Well if you're an attacking player on a team that's severely outclassed then you don't have much hope looking good in a one off trial. Unfortunately at that age I was too naive to just return to the club.

After that, probably due the fact I wasn't overly loud and brash, didn't really have a sporting family to tap on anyone's shoulder, and my last name wasn't also the last name of the guy that owned the Phoenix at the time, I fell into obscurity. Player of the year and golden boot for various teams followed but there was absolutely no care in the world beyond the school's special few.

In my final year of college after being snubbed for the first team after a very successful previous year I threw it all in and played social. I did the same for a few years of University. After finally returning to football I through some friends at Uni I became an occasional central league starter. After more than a few years break playing completely social football I don't think that's a bad achievement.

What could've been if from year 11 to the first few years of university if I was less naive? Who knows...

/rant

Anyhow... the point of that was to say if I did it all again I wouldn't give a damn about the school. If you're at a place that appreciates you then stick with it. School's footballing systems - like most things in life - are just another case of who you know not what you know. At least with a club you've had half your life developing those relationships.

I suppose that is less about "elite" players and more about the players one tier down. But there's some 2 cents for the evening.

Wellington College - love the place but they ruined my football career. I arrived year 11, so the middle of high school. I went from a select few in my club's academy to not even making WC's JPL team. The trial was probables vs possibles and I was new to the school was placed in the possibles team. Well if you're an attacking player on a team that's severely outclassed then you don't have much hope looking good in a one off trial. Unfortunately at that age I was too naive to just return to the club.

After that, probably due the fact I wasn't overly loud and brash, didn't really have a sporting family to tap on anyone's shoulder, and my last name wasn't also the last name of the guy that owned the Phoenix at the time, I fell into obscurity. Player of the year and golden boot for various teams followed but there was absolutely no care in the world beyond the school's special few.

In my final year of college after being snubbed for the first team after a very successful previous year I threw it all in and played social. I did the same for a few years of University. After finally returning to football I through some friends at Uni I became an occasional central league starter.

What could've been if from year 11 to the first few years of university if I was less naive? Who knows...

/rant

Anyhow... the point of that was to say if I did it all again I wouldn't give a damn about the school. If you're at a place that appreciates you then stick with it. School's footballing systems - like most things in life - are just another case of who you know not what you know. At least with a club you've had half your life developing those relationships.

I suppose that is less about "elite" players and more about the players one tier down. But there's some 2 cents for the evening.