Glebe manager Harry Hudson playing a key role in propelling young footballers into the professional ranks

GLEBE manager Harry Hudson says bringing through over 50 young footballers into the professional ranks is a fantastic achievement.

Kinetic Foundation is a registered charity with the aim to use sport to attract and engage with disadvantaged young people from London who are at risk of disengagement or deprivation.

They deliver a wide range of educational services and opportunities for them to be active, learn new skills and improve their employment.

For the players who haven’t stayed in football after finishing the programme, Kinetic have helped them on their path to university, finding jobs or football coaching.

Kinetic also run free weekly training sessions in the community for young aspiring players of all abilities.

Last month they reached the milestone of 50 signings to professional football clubs that have been on their academy programme after Fernando Macedo signed for Championship outfit Sheffield United.

“Fifty signings is a fantastic achievement for us and it shows a genuine pathway is there for young people into professional football,” said co-founder Hudson, who has previously managed non-league sides Croydon and Whyteleafe and has guided Chislehurst-based side Glebe to the summit of the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division, the ninth-tier of English football.

“We’re proud of all the outcomes from our programme with the signings being one of those.”

Last week Tosin Olopade became the 51^st, followed by a few days later by 17-year-old Ralfi Hand, who signed for League One side Charlton Athletic.

Joe Aribo (Glasgow Rangers), Omar Richards (Bayern Munich), Josh Maja (Girondins Bordeaux), Rhys Norrington-Davies (Sheffield United) and Kwadwo Baah (Watford) are just a few of the names that have been on the Kinetic Academy programme where they have been able to play a part in supporting their development and journey.

Glebe’s first-team footballers Bradley Wilson, Sam Johnson and Dami Olorunnisomo are all graduates from the Kinetic Academy programme.

Midfielder Wilson went on to coach at Kinetic for four years before being head-hunted to work as Head of Football at a leading independent school.

Glebe’s first-team coach Dan Hogan is Head Coach of Kinetic’s FA Youth Cup team representing Corinthian-Casuals, as part of a partnership with the Isthmian League Premier Division club.

The Tolworth-based club progressed through five rounds before losing to League One Academy side Cambridge United in The FA Youth Cup Second Round.

In the summer, Kinetic released this documentary as part of their 10-year anniversary, which explains more about their story – The Football Academy Rising from the Riots – More Than a Game.

For more details, visit www.kinetic-foundation.org.uk