UK Sport

FORMER ENGLAND INTERNATIONAL BACKS PITCH TO PODIUM

UK Sport/FA 12 June 2008

England Under-21s Head Coach Stuart Pearce has given his support to Pitch2Podium, the Talent ID initiative launched last week by UK Sport and the English Institute of Sport (EIS).

The Programme is offering over 1,000 released academy footballers the chance to take up the challenge and switch their talents to targeted Olympic sports.

The aim of Pitch2Podium is to provide young football players (aged 18-22 years), who have not yet secured a professional football contract, with a unique opportunity to succeed in an alternative Olympic sport.

Pearce said: "I'm very happy to offer my support for Pitch2Podium. I was let go by my local club at 14 and had to work hard to get back into professional football at a later age. It's always tough to recover from a setback like that but with determination you can succeed.

"For every player who makes it as a professional, there are many more who don't make the grade. I would advise any of them to take this chance to try to get to the top in another sport.

"I hope to be going to the Olympics in Beijing this summer to look at the football tournament as part of The FA's preparations for 2012. I'm excited about the opportunity to experience a bit of the spectacle that is an Olympic Games. To take part in an Olympics would be a fantastic alternative for anyone who doesn't make it in football."

Chelsea Warr, UK Sport’s Talent Identification lead said: “Football is the largest hot-bed of athletic talent in England and many of these players leaving the professional game would already have developed the ready-made skills and abilities we’d be looking for. These, along with the right coaching and support system would give them the potential to be fast-tracked toward the medal rostrum in 2012.”

While track and field athletics is one of the obvious recipient sports that may benefit, there are others that believe the footballer’s ready-made skills and abilities can apply to the Olympic environment. British Hockey has already shown great interest in taking on football recruits if they meet the required standards, with a particular interest in taking on those with goalkeeping talents. At the same time, British Cycling is interested in tapping into this hot-bed of athletic talent to further contribute to their increasingly successful talent transfer initiatives – which has already made an Olympic champion out of former rower Chris Hoy, who rowed for Scotland and won silver in the British Championships silver in the junior coxless pairs.

For further information, eligible players should visit: www.uksport.gov.uk/pitch2podium

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