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From Winning Teams to Broken Dreams: The story of six friends and their journey to make to the Premier League
What is it like to give your all but see the dream of becoming a top-flight footballer slowly die before your eyes?
A book every parent should read before allowing their child to join a top-flight football academy, Dominic Ball’s moving memoir is the real-life mud, sweat and tears journey of six band-of-brothers friends and their quest to become Premier League footballers.
Plucked from junior clubs as primary school age children by England’s biggest football academies, From Winning Teams to Broken Dreams reveals the inside out experiences of boys who strain every sinew to make the grade.
A Championship level footballer currently with QPR and a former England Under-20 international, Ball lifts the lid on the highs and lows, doubts and fears, lucky breaks and heartache, trials and tribulations, lonely loan moves and cruel, untimely injuries experienced by many young footballers.
Written to raise funds for Sarcoma UK, a charity that supports research into the rare form of bone cancer that claimed the life of Spencer McCall, one of the six boys featured at the age of just 26, From Winning Teams to Broken Dreams shines a light and poses serious questions about football youth development in England.
A book every parent should read before allowing their child to join a top-flight football academy, Dominic Ball’s moving memoir is the real-life mud, sweat and tears journey of six band-of-brothers friends and their quest to become Premier League footballers.
Plucked from junior clubs as primary school age children by England’s biggest football academies, From Winning Teams to Broken Dreams reveals the inside out experiences of boys who strain every sinew to make the grade.
A Championship level footballer currently with QPR and a former England Under-20 international, Ball lifts the lid on the highs and lows, doubts and fears, lucky breaks and heartache, trials and tribulations, lonely loan moves and cruel, untimely injuries experienced by many young footballers.
Written to raise funds for Sarcoma UK, a charity that supports research into the rare form of bone cancer that claimed the life of Spencer McCall, one of the six boys featured at the age of just 26, From Winning Teams to Broken Dreams shines a light and poses serious questions about football youth development in England.
184 pages, Paperback
Published April 14, 2022
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17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 2, 2025
Excellent account of the life of a ‘Premier League-wannabe’ academy footballer. Written by (still current) professional footballer Dominic Ball, this intelligent and well-written book describes how he and a small group of teenage friends navigate their way through the English professional football academy system. From falling in love with the great game as young boys and all dreaming of a life of Premier League football, to hitting the harsh realities of injuries, loss of form and failure to have a back-up-plan when things don’t go well. This is a typical story illustrating how even the most talented young footballers rarely make it to the top. Some settle for life lower down the football pyramid, whilst others become so disillusioned that they fall out of the game completely.
June 25, 2022
It does what it says on the tin. Gives a first person account of the English football academy/youth development system at an elite level. It also explains the sacrifices/psychology required/outcomes in very real terms
Although I enjoy all manner of different sports, I've always found it quite difficult to get into biographies / sports books. This was different. It reads very well (unlike many other sports books which often sound like they've been written/edited by a 5 year old - I can forgive the 2 or 3 typos). It's very informative and seems honest. Profits also go to a good cause. If you're at all interested in the subject matter then I'd recommend.
Although I enjoy all manner of different sports, I've always found it quite difficult to get into biographies / sports books. This was different. It reads very well (unlike many other sports books which often sound like they've been written/edited by a 5 year old - I can forgive the 2 or 3 typos). It's very informative and seems honest. Profits also go to a good cause. If you're at all interested in the subject matter then I'd recommend.
February 5, 2023
An incredible journey for both Dom and Loz. A lot happened in so short a time and at such a young age. Hopefully one or both will make the heights of the Premier League one day.
Heartbreaking at times too. The pressures on kids to succeed when so very few do is not talked about enough. Then there is Spenno's tale.
I stopped going to Rangers games when they made the Scottish Championship, but I did see him play in a cup game at Ibrox and he was a good player for his age.
Heartbreaking at times too. The pressures on kids to succeed when so very few do is not talked about enough. Then there is Spenno's tale.
I stopped going to Rangers games when they made the Scottish Championship, but I did see him play in a cup game at Ibrox and he was a good player for his age.
January 29, 2024
Really opens your eyes to the struggles of professional footballers and their dreams
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews