NEWS
Creating memories, moments and opportunities for this generation
ASPIRING FOOTBALLERS ENCOURAGED TO FUTURE-PROOF THEIR CAREER BY BALANCING SPORT WITH STUDY
THE UNIVERSITY OF DERBY AND PROCHANCE LINK UP IN INNOVATIVE STUDY PROGRAMME
Budding Rashfords, Rooneys and Ronaldos could soon be heading back to the classroom following the launch of an innovative new athlete professional development programme designed to give aspiring footballers and officials the opportunity to achieve an academic degree while developing their sporting talent, providing alternative career options for their life beyond sport.
The specialist two-year FdA Athlete Professional Development course, a partnership arrangement between ProChance Football (Caerus Sports Group) and the University of Derby, will enrol its first students in September 2023.
Liam Sutcliffe on @thelocker_uk Podcast
Listen Now!
Liam takes time to chat with Lee Wood of the @thelocker_uk podcast.
Liam talks about his experiences in football, opportunities that exist for players, what is needed to be successful and talks about players he has supported in years gone by who have now gone on to big things in the game.
NEXT UP
SHREWSBURY TOWN
vs
PROCHANCE
SATURDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2023
MIDDAY K.O
UNDER 18 LEVEL
SHREWSBURY TOWN TRAINING GROUND
Billy Corns talks ahead of the clash with Huddersfield Town
A player who is looking forward to attacking the Huddersfield Town game with confidence.
Billy Corns is a talented midfielder with lots to offer the world of professional football.
He commented "I am really looking forward to the game versus Huddersfield Town [14,01.2023]. I think this is a great game for me and my team mates to show what we can do. I believe this is an opportunity to express myself and showcase my quality to not only Huddersfield Town but the other clubs watching too.
These types of games are huge for me. I will go out there and try to prove a point. I am trying to earn a contract. I want to go out on to the pitch and prove why I deserve the chances that Liam and the staff at ProChance provide.
I am hungry and determined to prove myself. I want to showcase my style of play. I think it's important to feel a little bit of pressure to perform.
I'm very grateful for the chance I have been given and I will play with confidence. A big thank you to Huddersfield Town and ProChance for giving us this opportunity"
Head of Academy Recruitment | Lee Mellor | Huddersfield Town
Speaking from St. George's Park National Football Centre, Head of Academy Recruitment, Lee Mellor gave his thoughts on our last encounter and the opportunity afforded to promising young players.
Edu Rubio takes key role at Wolves
Coach Edu Rubio becomes Julen Lopetegui's first team coach as the spaniard takes over the reigns at premier league Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Rubio who has a long standing friendship with ProChance founder Liam Sutcliffe has worked previously for the Spanish FA, Nike Academy and Chelsea. He has previously worked as Head of Coaching at MK Dons where he worked wonders with the youth team and U23's with many players making their first team debuts.
An outstanding coach. His talents were much sort after as he worked with Crystal Palace 18's and 23's before embarking on a different challenge with West Ham United women's first team.
We are delighted for Edu and we hope this chapter of his career is a real success.
ProChance looks to Europe for more opportunities for promising young players
For players aged 18 and over securing a professional contract in the UK is getting harder and harder.
ProChance may just have the answer as we look towards Holland and Spain as more and more opportunities become available for young, talented players.
It's clear that the UK and England in particular has one of the best academy systems in world football but for some young players who find themselves in between opportunities or just on the outside of the professional game opportunities can be few and far between.
This isn't to say opportunities aren't available in England, Scotland or Eire, they are but we feel that the more options players have the more chance of success he or she will have. Spain and Holland are really strong markets for us and this is something we really want to do for young players.
Holland and Spain have outstanding facilities available to ProChance. Both countries have an excellent football infrastructure, both countries speak great english and there is a history of both countries working with UK talent.
ProChance feel a great way to get young talent in front of the correct eyes and ears is through training camps and showcase matches in both Holland and Spain in front of key decision makers from professional clubs in those countries. This creates genuine opportunities for promising young talent in the UK. It creates the chance to go to Europe as part of an elite level squad and earn a professional contract.
Dates for players aged between 17 and 23 that possess the tools to earn a contract will be released very soon.
ProChance reaches 30 professional club showcase matches in last 18 months
ProChance undertook the challenge of playing as many showcase matches as possible and are delighted to have played 30 matches in the last 18 months.
We spoke with Liam Sutcliffe, Founder of ProChance to see what all the fuss is about........
Q. What sort of opportunities do ProChance provide and what are showcase matches all about?
A. For any young player, they want opportunity. For us we can create the opportunity but we pride ourselves on the quality of opportunity. I am not aware of another organisation that plays as many showcase matches as we do, certainly not against professional clubs, at the levels we do and not as consistently throughout the year.
The quality of the professional club we play is hugely important ie.. we've never had a club put out 15's against 18's if anything professional clubs want to test their players and ours in the game. It makes for a real contest and gives our players a real chance to impress against a higher standard of player.
The number of people there to watch and who they are really matters ie.. the pro clubs have they sent Joe Bloggs [scout] because he lives the closest or have they sent someone who's opinion matters within the club. We see so many young players wasting their time, parent's money on opportunities that have zero chance of changing their chances.
And, the facilities matter. They create an occasion. A memory. That's important to a young player and us.
"There's an old saying in football. 'If you are good enough, football will find you' We are just making it more convenient for clubs and players to find each other"
Q. What's the focus for ProChance?
A. We try to focus on quality across the board. Our facilities are the best, the opportunities we provide are genuine, our contact book is outstanding and we care about the standard of opportunity we provide.
In the last 18 months we have played a league one club in Port Vale. The same team that played us, played on the Saturday in the EFL. We have played Premier League clubs, Championship and league one and two clubs ranging from Crystal Palace to Shrewsbury Town. In this time we have streamed to tens of thousands of people.
Everything we do is an attempt to get young, talented players in front of the right eyes and ears and memories.
PlayerData becomes ProChance Technology & Innovation Partner
PlayerData is delighted to announce a partnership with ProChance Football, which will see both organisations collaborate to enhance the professional career prospects of the club’s young players.
ProChance players will have use of PlayerData’s industry leading GPS tracking and analysis service, enabling coaches to track player performance on match days as well as during training sessions to enhance their prospects of securing a professional contract.
ProChance is one of the UK’s leading football programmes for young footballers recently released from professional clubs; it provides a second opportunity to earn a contract with a professional team while also developing skills and understanding of wider career opportunities within sport.
PlayerData is one of the fastest growing sports technology companies in the UK and is dedicated to making sports GPS tracking and analysis available to football clubs at every level of the game.
Commenting on the partnership PlayerData’s Head of Commercial, Mark Kirkup said “I’m delighted we have agreed a partnership with ProChance, a progressive and innovative organisation looking to integrate sports science and technology into their club culture, ensuring their young players have the best chance of success in the future.”
Liam Sutcliffe, Founder of ProChance, added “We are so pleased to announce our partnership with PlayerData. We know it is imperative we integrate technology into what we do day to day.
I have been very impressed by PlayerData, they are forward thinking and constantly developing their product; that’s something we want to bring to our players and the wider football community.
For any young player representing ProChance to have access to this type of data will be invaluable. How fast they run, distance covered, heat maps and metres per minute to name a few statistics we can use from the software gives each player an edge. It's data we and they can use to impress professional clubs.
It will enhance the prospects of any young player wishing to make that step towards a professional contract and that is where the synergy of this partnership begins.”
