eddie mcgoldrick blog
By Eddie McGoldrick on 11 June 2018

What have Lionel Messi, Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo all got in common?

Well, yes, they’re all fantastic footballers, they’re all prolific goalscorers and they’ll all be starring on the biggest stage of all this summer when the World Cup kicks off in Russia. But there’s something else that comes hand-in-hand with their incredible talent. Hard work.

Those three global superstars are household names who enjoy all the trappings of fame but they didn’t get there by chance. Their work ethic, their dedication and their cast iron resolve to success is what sets them apart.

In an era where a generation of footballers have become multi-millionaires by the time they reach their early 20s it has become all-too-easy to think you’ve made it simply by getting signed by a big club’s academy. The reality is that’s only the start of it. Then the hard work really kicks in.

Northampton College has teamed with Premier League club Crystal Palace to launch our own football academy – offering a pathway for talented footballers to pursue their top-flight dreams while keeping a close eye on their studies.

We will instil a culture of hard work, encouraging students to concentrate on their studies and understand the importance of gaining qualifications for a life away from football – but we will provide them with the facilities and coaching to give it their best shot at breaking into the big time.

The Foundation Academy hopes to unearth the next rising star whilst preparing students for a life in the workplace if their top-flight dreams remain the stuff of Fantasy Football.

To make it to the top you have to have incredible natural talent and the willingness to work. Sign up to the CPFC Foundation Academy at Northampton College and let’s see how far you can go.

To find out more about the academy visit https://www.northamptoncollege.ac.uk/footballacademy.html or come along to our open event at Booth Lane from 5pm on Wednesday, June 27.