From working at McDonalds to Premier League player

Sorry, we aren't going to offer you a place in our academy next season . They are words no young footballer wants to hear. The fact is this happens thousands of times a year. It is common. What is different is how that player and their families react to it. Sheffield United player, Chris Basham recalls the time it happened to him. "There was just a letter through the door. No call or anything from the management." Before he joined Newcastle, he was happy playing Sunday football with his friends.

This is what you want in life. To be a footballer would be a dream

Chris Basham - to football4football

Friends he hung around with and went to school with. It was a real community, he said. His dad ran the team, and the young Chris helped out on match days before and after games. Between, he'd generally be one of the best players in the team. When Newcastle United spotted him, he was excited, even though he supported arch-rivals, Sunderland. The Premier League club has the biggest following in the North-East and had the legendary Sir Bobby Robson as the manager.

Basham thought this was the route into living his dream of becoming a professional footballer. At only 12, he felt he was on his way. Free kit, boots and the status of being at a pro club made him feel good. Something began to trouble him after a while though. The pro academy setting he now found himself in was all about coaching & training sessions. Where were the games he thought?

His parents were making the long drive to evening training during the week but Chris longed for a match. Teammates left in grassroots football were playing competitive games every Saturday or Sunday. They were a good team. They'd get to finals where Chris would go to watch, wishing he could be out there with them. Being at a pro academy means these types of games don't happen anymore. He wasn't even allowed to play for his school team. At that early stage of his career, he was a prized asset to be protected.

Doubts

As the time came to being offered a full-time scholarship approached, Chris was becoming aware of a few things. Players of the same age as he seemed to be developing more than he was. You do get the odd wonder-kid at 15 or so. They appear to be bigger, faster and stronger. Players like Andy Carroll and David Edgar were getting chances in around the reserves. They'd benefit from having more advanced physical qualities to add to their football ability. Basham wasn't going to be big enough to make the step up from scholar to the Newcastle United first team they thought. There are psychological stresses that academy football can put on young shoulders.

You've still got to develop. You've got players that are older, stronger & quicker than you.

Chris Basham - to football4football

Doubt and anxiety are things that are commonplace in elite football at ALL levels and ages. With players who are released, there's that bit of embarrassment too. They've left their friends in junior football and gone on to 'the big league', only to be rejected. This rejection is softened with the support of family and friends. As much as the player is focused and committed to following the pro dream, parents have to be grounded. They are mum and dad first, football fans second.

When Chris did get released, he was devastated. The academy systems prepare for success, in the system, not for failure. It's a balancing act for professional clubs. Yes, they have to be real, the numbers behind those who make at there to see. They also have to fill the player with as much confidence as possible to bring out their full football potential. It comes down to managing expectations in pro academies .

Therapy

The aftermath for Chris was a courageous and critical process. Of course, his parents would say they were proud of him, but he felt he'd let everyone down. He walked away from the pressured surroundings of being a pro. When academy players get released a move into non-league can offer a life-line. People like Jamie Vardy and former Wales captain Ashley Williams went down that route with great success.

For Basham, it wasn't for him. He wanted a break. Being amongst his friends again was therapy. After a while even found his love the game again, this time in Sunday league. Being happy again helped him to get his game going again. Back at home, his parents wanted to mould him into a person with the tools for life. They suggested he get a job. Money wasn't the driver behind this; they tried to expose him to the responsibility of managing time and his finances.

The local Mcdonald's was the place that would shape the next phase of Chris Basham's life. The cleaning, cooking and serving customers brought out the character needed to be a success. He approached every task in the fast-food joint as if it was a personal representation of himself. Yes, he was there, but he was being to see where he wanted to be as a person and in life.

I worked at McDonald's. It's something I'm not ashamed of. I realised how hard it is to work in the industry.

Talking about his job at the fast food restaurant - Chris Basham to football4football

The Premier League player

The Sunday football soon went up a notch as he enrolled at college. Knowing most of the people on the course, it involved playing for the representative team.

Selected to represent Durham County, the standard rose, and so did Basham's game. It's all about keeping doing the right things. The manager of the team was a scout for Bolton Wanderers.

2ND CHANCE: Bolton Wanderers saw the potential of Basham and made a profit when the sold him.

There were two places from the representative squad up for grabs come the end of the season. Those places would see the best two players go for a trial at Bolton. Before the season had reached halfway, Chris was whisked down to show what he could do.

It was down to that 90 minutes.

Chris Basham - to football4football

With Basham being 18, he was too old to play in a scholar game. So, after training for a week with the scholar, he was put into a reserve game against Blackburn Rovers. In his mind, there was nothing to lose. With first-team players with him and against him, he did his thing. Bolton manager Sam Allardyce in 2006, offered him a 1-year contract straightaway. Chris Basham was back.

He made his Premier League debut for Bolton against his beloved Sunderland aged 20. He went on to play for Blackpool as well as having valuable loan spells at non-league Stafford and Rochdale. Basham is now an established player in the Premier League with Sheffield United. He's also proof of the unpredictable path to becoming a professional footballer can take.