Blackburn Rovers Youth team are top of the league and in the FA Youth Cup fifth round. We spent a day at the Academy to catch a glimpse of the club’s future...

As Blackburn Rovers’ youngsters gather at their Brockhall base ahead of another day in the life of the academy, they leave you in little doubt they are living the dream.

Laughter can be heard all round as they finish off their carefully prepared breakfast before heading outside for another few hours of doing the job they always dreamed of doing - playing football.

And why shouldn’t Ewood Park’s latest batch of hopefuls be enjoying themselves? Top of the Academy League and an FA Youth Cup fifth round clash against Manchester United to look forward to; life couldn’t be much better for this group of youngsters.

Behind those smiles and youthful exuberance though sits the veil of uncertainty, with the knowledge their Premier League dreams could be shattered at any point.

D-Day looms large for some of these lads, with Rovers’ second-year scholars expecting a decision on whether they are to be awarded their first ever professional contract within the next six weeks.

For the majority of these players, football is all they ever have known. Signing two-year deals with the academy straight from school, the idea of work outside the game will still seem foreign.

That can change in an instant.

The man charged with the ultimate responsibility of making or breaking dreams is Rovers’ experienced Academy manager Phil Cannon, along with his respected and envied collection of coaches, but he insists everyone accepts the ruthless nature of the so-called beautiful game.

The former Everton youth guru said: “From the outside looking in, best job in the world for these lads and it is. But there are pressures everywhere. You have to produce as a player, it is as simple as that.

“We give them the opportunity, the best coaching programme but at the end of the day it is down to them. They have to be able to look in the mirror and say they gave it their best shot. It is when they don’t they will always have regrets.

“They have been footballers for two or three years and to be told you have to go somewhere else really hits them. With the 16-year-olds, you haven’t messed around with their lives. They can still go to University or another club. Those decisions for the boys who have been with you two or three years really hurts you.

“The odds are stacked against young players from the start and they know that. When you sit them down you say which one has got the X factor? Which one? They all raise their hands and that is what you want. Sometimes five of them might do it but other years it might just be one.”

The dreaded annual cull starts this week for Cannon & co as they make their final decisions on which of their under 16s will be given the chance to take up a two-year scholarship at the club.

Some Academy scholars like Jason Banton, Micah Evans and Jake Keen have already battled back from the pain of rejection once, having been offered a second chance at Rovers after being released from Arsenal, Manchester City and Derby County, and there will be plenty others over the next few days wondering what life has in store for them next.

Life away from football certainly isn’t ignored at Brockhall, with college courses and coaching badges a must for all professional hopefuls within their busy week as everything is done to make sure they are at least prepared if the worst does happen.

But the main aim of the much-envied facilities, the thousands of pounds poured into their youth system every year and the building of so many hopes from the age of nine to 18 is to produce future first team stars.

“We are a club that has to produce,” said Cannon. “We need to produce from our 9s to 16s programme. In the past we have taken a lot of boys from other clubs or other countries at 16. Does that count as coming through your academy? Half.

“I would like to be able to produce players from the 9s to 16s, so you identify them and work with them and see them come through.

“At Everton we had one player come through in the first team every year for 15 years. If we could do that here, don’t tell the gaffer because he will want more than one, but if you get one a year you have achieved your aim.

“These lads at the academy only have between 12 and 15 months to show us what they can do, so the pressure is on all the time.

“It is just like being a professional and getting a one-year contract extension – the pressure is on.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Andy Cryer picks out a few youngsters to look out for.

Jason Banton. After being released from Arsenal was signed by Rovers followed a successful trial last season. The 18-year-old striker can play either centrally or out wide and has already shown his eye for goal this season. Scored in both rounds of the FA Youth Cup this season and also bagged all five goals in the under 18’s 5-1 win over Barnsley in September. Has already made three reserve appearances.

Jackson Ramm. Brought to the club’s academy from Cambridge United, the attacking and hard-tackling right back has already represented the reserves aged just 16. Also played in Rovers’ first team friendly in October against Accrington Stanley.

Tom Hitchcock. The England under 17 international has been at Rovers since the age of 12 and signed his first professional contract on his 17th birthday in October. The striker scored on his reserve team debut and is the son of former Chelsea goalkeeper Kevin Hitchcock.

ACADEMY STAFF

Phil Cannon – Academy manager
Gary Bowyer – Head of youth coaching
Terry McPhillips – Assistant academy manager (under13s – under 16s)
Simon Ireland – Assistant academy manager (under 6s – under 12s)
Steve Nickson – Head of youth recruitment
Rick Leighton – Head of education
Russ Wrigley – Senior academy physiotherapist
David Pinckard – Academy physiotherapist
Nick Fielding – Sports scientist
Matthew Busby – Sports scientist/ conditioner
Jason Todd – Performance analyst.