Glenn Hoddle Academy
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 | This article contains content that is written like an advertisement. (May 2009) |
| The Glenn Hoddle Academy | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| , | |
| Information | |
| Type | Football Academy |
| Established | 2008 |
| Founder | Glenn Hoddle |
| Specialist | Football |
| Gender | Male |
| Age | 18+ |
| Colour(s) | Yellow |
| Website | http://www.glennhoddleacademy.com/ |
The Glenn Hoddle Academy (or the GHA) was established in 2008, by former England international footballer Glenn Hoddle.[citation needed] Hoddle set the academy up in the memory of his brother, Carl, a former Tottenham Hotspur player who died aged 40.[citation needed]
Objectives
It is the main objective of the academy to get former Premier League and Football League Championship scholars back into professional football after being released by their various clubs.[citation needed]
Glenn Hoddle came up with the idea of a football academy a long time before the GHA actually opened. Indeed, in an interview with the Daily Mirror on 24 May 2008, Hoddle claimed: "I've had it in mind ever since my first job as a manager at Swindon."[citation needed]
In 2008, up to 40 selected players were invited to join the academy after being released by professional clubs or having been identified by GHA scouts.[citation needed] They receive coaching at the state of the art facility from some of the top professional coaches working alongside Glenn Hoddle.[citation needed]
However, the academy insists this is not just another case of a famous football celebrity lending his name to a random, money-making scheme.[citation needed] They claim that the original concept was Hoddle's and that he is committed to turning his vision into reality.[citation needed] It is also clear he has invested a great deal of his own money, time and passion into the project.[citation needed]
In January 2009, the first signs that Hoddle's commitment was paying off came when former Fulham youngster Lino Goncalves was invited to a two-week trial with Football League Championship side Ipswich Town.[citation needed] Another one of the players in Ikechi Anya has signed a deal till the end of the season with Northampton Town, already playing an important role in the club's survival having already scored.[citation needed] The same player then moved to La Liga giants Sevilla from Northampton Town.
The Facility
The Academy is based in southern Spain, in the Montecastillo Resort, Jerez; which is in the Andalucian province of [[Cádiz (province)|Cádiz Being only fifteen minutes away from the Atlantic coast, it is the ideal setting for a number of sporting activities such as golf, thanks to the Jack Nicklaus 18-hole golf course, and football, thanks to a number of football training pitches.[citation needed]
Whilst golf is the main domain of the resort, a number of sports facilities are available. These include mountain biking, swimming and scuba-diving.[citation needed]
Players
- Tim Horn
- Billy Lumley - signed by Grays Athletic, before returning to GHA
- Lewis McCardle
- Andrew Owens - signed by Altrincham
- Emmanuel Udoji
- Nick Beasant
- Chris Riley
- Luke Morgan
- Curtley Williams
- Tom Beahon
- Harrison Bayley - signed by Onisolos
- James Folkes
- David Cowley - Signed by Recreativo de Huelva
- Paul Harrison
- Loren Maxwell - signed by Forest Green Rovers
- James Simmonds - signed by Ecija
- Michael Noone
- Chris Fagan - Signed by Lincoln City
- Ikechi Anya - Signed by Sevilla FC
- Lino Goncalves - Signed by Recreativo de Huelva
- James Beasant
- Michael Scott
- Adriano Moke
- Tom Webb - Signed by Halstead Town via Harlow Town
- Ryan Burge
Economics
Funding the project
Hoddle began raising funds for his academy in January 2008.[citation needed] The aim was to raise £4m and Hoddle set about raising the money straight away.[citation needed]
The majority of funding for the academy is from Glenn Hoddle himself.[citation needed] However, to reach the required £4m to start the academy, Hoddle made a series of presentations to wealthy bankers from the major banks, and made presentations to a number of professional clubs.[citation needed]
For the academy to survive, there is also a great deal of sponsorship required.[citation needed] The majority of this comes from professional footballers, with Frank Lampard Jnr supposedly among the sponsors.[citation needed]
Profit
Whilst this is predominantly not a money making venture for Hoddle, there is a great deal of scope for profit.[citation needed] By signing players straight after their release from Premier League and Championship football clubs, the academy can sign them for no fee, or for a nominal compensation figure.[citation needed] However, by developing the player, it is likely that professional clubs may become interested in the players' services.[citation needed] To achieve this, the club must pay a compensation fee to the academy, much like the fee involved in a transfer between two professional clubs, thus making a profit.[citation needed]
Other sources of profit include agent and development fees, as well as from television deals and player sponsorship.[citation needed]