Havn't they learnt owt from the last fooker Mini Messi, 7 years old, man, let the kid enjoy himself. Mini Messi Layton Campbell faces a tough decision as Newcastle United and Sunderland AFC battle to sign up the seven-year-old star. With a two year contract on the table from the Magpies, and the Black Cats clawing hot on their heels, Layton could soon be faced with the unenviable task of picking between the great rivals. The sudden interest in his sonâs football skills has come as a shock to dad, John Campbell, who admits the schoolboy didnât show much interest in the game until recently. John, 25, of Walker, Newcastle, said: âHe started playing when he was four but it wasnât until this last season that everyone started talking about him. âThen, I got a call from the guys at Newcastle saying they would like to offer him a two-year contract. âAt first I couldnât believe it. About 10 hours later, Sunderland phoned up and said they were also interested. âItâs knocked us all for six, Iâm over the moon for him, and I think his mam has told everyone in Walker.â John will be in a good position to guide his son after playing for Manchester Cityâs youth team when he was 18. In 2011, the dad-of-three was signed to Darlington and played in the FA Trophy final at Wembley. http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/tyneside-mini-messi-torn-between-7371575
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13224130 A Dutch football club has awarded a toddler a symbolic 10-year contract after watching video of him scoring a hat trick into his toy box. When Baerke van der Meij, one and a half, drove three balls into the box one after another, his father Jorg posted the video on YouTube. VVV, the club in the south-eastern town of Venlo where the family live, invited Baerke for a "trial". They were doubly impressed by the fact his grandfather had played for VVV. "Baerke did his best to amaze professional footballer Ken Leemans with his football techniques," the club said. "One can speak of a right-footed player with a very good kick technique, perseverance and, importantly, football genes of grandfather Jan van der Meij." Importantly, too, the little Dutchman can shout "bal" (English: ball). The signing of the contract, with a little help from Jorg, was toasted with a glass of orange juice. The video originally posted on YouTube has been viewed at least 1.67m times.
I've heard there's a foetus in Bishop Auckland somewhere who's gonna have a cracking left foot on him according to doctors... Also had a laugh reading the comments on the article from the vermin up the road, still going on about that 5-1 game. I've got a 5-1 for them; five derby games, and they haven't won one.
What choice do clubs have? The situation with grass roots mean clubs have to get involved earlier than they should if they want the chance to develop a decent player.
