Brutal doesn't even begin to describe life for young kids who are trying to make it as professional football players.
It makes an X Factor audition circa 2005 look like a walk in the park.
Football Dreams: The Academy, on C4 on Thursday, follows eight to 18-year-olds at the prestigious Crystal Palace Football Club Academy, where 200 kids train hard for their shot at the big time.
And the pressure is intense.
It’s not just about ability, it’s about discipline. Their growth and maturity stats are monitored and judged. How tall will he be? How heavy? Progress is analysed. They must be confident, but not cocky. Skilled, but humble.
All of them are desperate to be signed for their next contract, but could be dropped at any moment.
And don’t even get me started on the parents. Some are merely supportive, but others want it more than their children.
However, the docuseries started with three lovely families, their hopeful sons and the magnificent U12s lead coach, Phil Hingston, who became a nation’s sweetheart in just 40 minutes.
Bravo to the casting director. Everyone was bright, engaging and natural on screen.
“Keep yourself humble,” said Phil, who demonstrated a masterclass in how to guide and inspire these young kids.
Kairo, Kayden and Bola, all aged 11, were the focus of this episode.
They have grown up playing football together, but hanging over their heads was the possibility they could be split up if one doesn’t make it. “Our friendship is a family bond,” said Bola.
Later, he welled up when he had to take time off with an injured knee.
Kairo got a dressing-down for being too arrogant. Kayden needed to overcome his feeling of not being good enough.
He is. For now.
I usually find these things hard to watch, with impossibly high stakes on young shoulders. But Phil the hero mentor spoke so kindly to these boys and their parents that it was hard to hate it.
Structured with a countdown to contract decision day, the tension built throughout and I was rooting for the “band of brothers” to make it.
Kairo and Kayden were in, but Bola still had to spend a few weeks proving himself. He was heartbroken.
In two years, there will be another “retain or release” decision, the stakes getting higher each time.
For a football-obsessed nation, this look at how it all begins is an excellent idea.
But just one niggle: Where were the girls? Maybe those Lionesses will have inspired producers to give them some airtime for series two…
