Words eR ilingham Observing one of Simon Clifford's training sessions can be like watching 2 Japanese game show. Its the middle of January and a dozen or so 18-year-olds are running along the side of Leeds’ Roundhay Park Lake up to their waist in freeing cold ‘water The sirface underfoot uneven; every ‘now and then the boy ill fae-dow into the water ArThe end ofthe nun, there no let up Clifford, a former sli] teacher, is barking ac them toda press-ups with thie feet on the bank and cher arms in che water. They derso willingly and seem determined &o complete the repetitions. You'd struggle to nd a set of teenagers in the country, The eam they play for is G 1 club oned by Chiford and who, after ro promotions in three seasons, will be play in the Unibond Northern League nest season, oné below the Conférence North ight fungs higheson the English football lalder,and the Premiership isin rude heath Acknowledged by many as the world and ish from a new 1.7 billion TV deal, the world’s best players continue to sign for Englands top clubs. The national resin has a brand new Wembley Stadiums on whieh to strut tsseuff—butlook beneath the surface anil speak 10 many closely involved in the game, and they'll tell you that English foothall ison the verge ofa msjor ers, forth Taw, 102 FourFourTwo “In 10 years time I an see the national PAG directo Footbal develop Tost a lot of ground in the past five years because the lack of e¢o-ordinated approach, Weall need to pullin the same direction, but atthe moment that’ nor happening “Trevor Brooking is 2 big fan of Simon Cliffard and his efforts to. inroduce some much-needed veehnique training to youngsters in this cousitty with his revolutionary Brazilian Soccer Schools. But ‘ill it be enough to save English football? Clifford would lke to think so and to show us-how he’ going to do-it; he invites FourFour Fee to one of bis Futbol de Salao classes, Unlike the boot-cimp training in Roudhay Lake, the schools offer more intricate ball training using a Futebol We Selao bull, which tries to re-create the skills of Brasilian footballers: That evening, Clifford is taking a cass with 20 e ids and ‘what he shows uss fascinating suf Theres very litle ceam play, bur plengy of dls with a variety of naaies, ‘The children attempt "The Ronaldinho! anv! The Rivelino’ ~a series of treks and ficks with 1 smaller, heavier ball. “Don’t join the ofehestra until you've mastered your rumen” is Clifords mantra, “The idea The Emers of the smaller bal is that because its heany you can’t just lump it to get out of trouble You haye to play a short, clever pass, or dribble it. Vm not saying it the best way to train kids, but England docsn't seem 0 be producing players who ean dribble or pass Technique complemented by extreme fitness is what I believe in. Te was good enough for Pele, Zico and Ronaldo, who began their careers plying Futebol de Salao, and Clitford has proved ican be taed to successflly coxch children in England, There are nearly 80 Bexzilian Soccer Schaal in the UK (320 worldwide), and 1,700 players who have tained atthe Schooisare currently playing in the junior and senior ranks of pro clubs in the UK, with several ako playing at incernationa level Manchester City defender Micah Richards is fone such gra es with the moneys hes cared fron his Brazilian Soccer Schools that Clifford was able to buy Garfort Town in 2003, His plan is to Sllthe team with players trained the Broilian way and reach the top of English football ‘That bold arobition aside, speak to Clifford abou youth development and be despairs of ch af whats going on in theinglish game today. The 1997 Charter fos Quality written by the then FA.technical director Howard Wilkinson, who introduced the academyFourFourTwoPART THREE: UK system, is as good a starting point a any “Wilkinson sid that kids should only train in the academies,” says Cliford witha hint of frustration. “The thought was that PE teachers at schools weren't qualified to ‘offer quality coaching. But in some cases this meant the amount of training dropped from 10 hours a week to three Tewas a major step backwards The higgest hee in Clifford’ bonnet is the quality and quantity of practice and coaching youngsters receive in England. After befriending Middlesborough midfielder Juninho in 1995 he started to understand why Brazil produces foothalers than any other nation and,as he soon discovered it was nothing to do with simply playing on the Copacabana, “Brazil produces more players because the kids are practicing three-four hours every day. Juninho used to despair of the training techniques at Boro,” says Ciford So much so that we use t0 goto a gym in thealternaon for more, But we coulda’ tell anyone, otherwise Bryan Robson (Boro then manager) would have gone mae.” Clifford has spent much of the past 10, yeats driving the Establishment mad, Never more so than during his short spell as head of sports science at Southampton. Clif was brought in to work individually with the club promising youngsters like Theo Waleottand Gareth Bale, bu despite some encouraging feedback from the players, he found himself at odds with the frst team manager Harry Redknappand hisassistant Dave Bassett. “They thought 1 was ‘working the players too hard,” expl Clifford. Then Martin Cranie, who had just broken into the first team, pulled i hamstring in training and 1 got the blame because I'd also been coaching him.” Clifford's abrasive attitude meant 106 Agus 2007 FourFourTwo ‘confrontation was never too far away and after two months and IT days, he lle the South Coast under a cloud. Like his hero Brian Clough, Simon Gifford was born in Middlesbrough and is an outspoken maverick. He makes lot of bold statements "nthe future Twill own the England tex”) and rash claims ¢'n0- ‘one has done as much as me for the gras roots game”), but despite the posturing he talks an awfal lo of sense, He's also willing to give credit where credit is due, When it ‘cornestohishometowncub, Middlesbrough, Clifford believes their academy, under the guidance of Dave Parnaby, is setting 2 rae, bur good example ofhow to develop. young talent. "Dave's not a big mouth lke Ime," siys Clifford, “He a very humble hard working guy who is producing some great kids” He eerainly is. On May 7 2006, in the final match ofthe season against Fulham, allof Middlesbrough’ stating 11 were born within 30 miles of the Riverside, “Tm fortunate," says Para, whose youngsters ‘won the FA Youth Cup in 2004, "The chairman Steve Gibson and chief exceutive Keith Lamb have never wavered from their commitment to youth development. The managers, like Bryan Robson, Steve McClaren and now Gareth Southgate have ako been committed. We've abo been lucky in that we've had a stable league position Top Simon Citfrd, ‘scourge ofthe Establishment ove Dave Paraby, head of Boro's academy Michan Richards tet) Crewe academy; Boro miaielder unin be soe could take afew chances. We've also played in Europe, which has meant a big ‘squad that given youngsters a chance.” But far from being satisfied with his los, like Simon Clifford, Dave Patnaby is downbeat about the direction youth development is going in this country “There needs to be a major review," says, Parnaby forcefully. “The seademy system has given us moch better aceess to young players. Butsome clubs don'thave the right the quality of coaching or the right facilities, Standards have been eroded, but itall comes down to money”. Atthe moment, the Premier League and FA give just £10 million to help and the academies and eentres of excellence in the Football League; that’s £147,000 per club Other grants are available, but no wonder some of them arentup to standard, “Forme themodel lubis Crewe "sys Parma.“ They have a great commitment to youngsters, 2 great manager, are well-organised and ‘commiteed to playing in the right way. But even Crewe chairman John Bowler believes the Cheshire club’ commitment toyouthis coming under pressure. Bowler, who has been chairman of Crewe for almost 20 years, believes rising costs and falling revenues are having a real impact in the League. He thinks that academies, and centres of excellence (smaller, cheaper academies) will be the frst things many clubscurbackon: “Weare findingit harder and harder to carry on with such an ‘extensive youth programme”, Bowler is fortunate to have had Dario Gracias manager of Crowe forthe past 24 years. Along with Man United’ Sir Alex Fergison, Gradi was the longest serving manager aca single lub, On July 1, Grad, who has overseen the development of players like David Platt, Neil Lennon, Danny Murphy and Dean Ashton, became technical director atthe club and his new role will see him even more immersed in youth development than ever. His atest, success, striker Luke Varney, has just been sold to Charlton for £2 million which