READING FC TRIALS PROCEDURE
More information on recruitment
If you would like a boy up to the age of 16 to be watched by
Send in as much information about his playing career,
including fixture list if they currently play for a club, to:
Recruitment Department
Reading FC
Madejski Stadium
Junction 11, M4
Reading
Berkshire
RG2 0FL
Our Academy then may or may not send a scout to watch the boy.
As well as contacting the Recruitment Team with full
details of a youngster's playing history, it is also possible for
talented children to be spotted through our Football in the
Community scheme.
If one of our coaches or scouts identifies a player at a soccer
school or school club, they may be invited to spend time
at one of our Development Centres, which are held throughout
the region. From there, the most talented players can be invited
to join the Academy's Elite Centre, which takes place at Madejski
Stadium once a week for boys aged between 7-13, and
successful graduates from the Elite Centre will be invited to a
six-week trial to join their Academy age-group.
To recommend a player to the Recruitment Team, please send
a letter with full details of the boy's playing history, along
with details of forthcoming games, venues and kick-off times.
Academy Manager Eamonn Dolan told us: "If you know a
talented young player, the first thing to do is contact the
Recruitment Team at the football club. Up to the age of
12 we can recruit anyone who lives within an hour's
travelling distance, and between the ages of 12 and 16 that
increases to an hour and a half.
"If your granddad, work colleague or hairdresser knows a player
who might be good enough for the Academy, let us know.
It's then up to us to be professional enough to follow that up,
and we will. We have scouts who will go and watch players -
often a player will have been watched without them even
realising it - and if we like the look of someone, we can
invite them in for a six-week trial."
Eamonn says that it's important to introduce youngsters
to the Academy system as early as possible, stating,
"The golden years of learning are between seven and 11,
when you can really get the kids into all the good habits.
Kids are so receptive at that age, so our coaches are
able to get into their thinking. We want players as young
as possible, even at six or seven years of age. This is an
elite programme and we're looking for the best."
The Academy boss also adds that a complete infrastructure
is in place to look after our young players: "We ask a lot of
our children, but we can offer them excellent back-up in
terms of coaching, medical treatment, education and welfare.
This is a good place for anyone, and certainly any local boy
should be coming here now."
This is the official process to apply for a trials at this Club.
Each Club has it's own strict policy, please respect this Club and
apply using the correct method stated above.