What scouts REALLY look for in grassroots players

What does it really take for a young player to make it in academy football and what are parents and grassroots coaches getting wrong? In this episode, Ben and Mike sit down with Sean Conlon, a former Chelsea and QPR academy coach and scout, to get honest answers from inside the system.

Sean, now the ceo of We Make Footballers and founder of Project Footballer, breaks down the reality of youth football in the UK - from why early talent means nothing long-term, to what scouts actually look for (and it’s not just skills).

The conversation dives into mindset, habits, and the huge influence parents have from the sidelines. Ben and Mike ask the questions every grassroots parent and coach is thinking, while Sean shares practical, no-nonsense insight on how to support young players properly, without adding pressure or taking the joy out of the game.

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