Welcome to the Uphall Diamonds Soccer School Page

NOTE : SOCCER SCHOOL IS NOT RUNNING AT THE MOMENT.     

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You are too small to make it as a football player ? 

" Sorry son, you are just too small to make the grade. "   

A young Scottish player was told that over and over till Hudersfield Town took a chance on him.   Denis Law played for Huddersfield Town, Manchester City, Torino and Manchester United.  He made 55 appearances for Scotland, scoring 30 goals.   He played for Scotland in the World Cup Finals in West Germany.     In 1964 he was voted European Footballer of the Year.

   Not bad for a boy " too small to be a professional football player " 

But I'm a striker !   

Some times coaches do odd things !

They dont play you in the position that you like, or think that you are good at.

But there is a reason...........Consider.........." The Dustmans story "  

A young lad grew up in Llandudno in Wales.  

He was big for his age so he was deemed to be a centre half. He was decent at it and stayed as a big stopper into his teens when he had trials with Crewe Alexandria and Bolton Wanderers.  

He was'nt quite good enough to make the grade however and returned home to play centre half for Llandudno Swifts - and to continue in his job as a dustman. He was injured in training one day, eager to participate he offered to play in goal. So he did, and what do you know - he was outstanding !   

An unknown talent had surfaced. The dustman continued to play in goals, moving on to Conway United, Bangor City and Winsford, small teams in Wales. His talent had been noted though and a £6,000 transfer to Bury followed. After 39 games for Bury the dustman then moved to Everton.  

That dustman was called Neville Southall.   

Neville Southall  39 games for Bury  A record 750 games for Everton  A record 91 international caps for Wales  League Championship winner 1985, 1987.  FA cup winner 1984, 1985.  European cup winners cup winner 1985.  English footballer of the in 1985.

Now who knows how Neville's career would have developed had he not had that injury.  

Maybe he would have made it, or maybe he may have stayed as a dustman.   

Perhaps if he had been tried in goals as a young lad he may have an easier route to the top ............... Its worth thinking about ! 

If you are ever told ........" sorry but you are not good enough to play football " 

    Consider Alan Shearer. 

At 12, Alan was captain of his school's football team.   Even then, his skills were so remarkable that his sports teacher remarked, "If Alan was ill, we tried to get matches called off." He once scored 13 goals in one game.   Alan won a trial with his boyhood hero's Newcastle United. They failed however to notice his goal-scoring abilities, and told him that he was'nt good enough.

   Alan went away and worked on his game. He got a trial and signed for Southampton.

   A transfer to Blackburn Rovers followed. 

   Newcastle then paid Blackburn £15 million for a player ......" not good enough"