Stephen Hector

THFC #COYS 🇬🇧 🇯🇲

[Stan Collymore @StanCollymore]

Why the USA will never be a football superpower.

Pay to play.

In England, from 10 to 16 I payed junior football. The teams were mostly started by a parent who wanted, for free, to give kids a team to play in. Those teams then joined FA sanctioned leagues ( Lichfield league, Walsall league in my case). Subs were about 50p a game ( subs are a fee for admin, pitch hire, referee).

The model in England hasn't changed much, save for the fact there's fewer teams and fewer leagues. But the cheap to play model, meaning the poor and rich can play equally, holds.

I'm staying with one of my best mates in Miami. Had a late night conversation 2 nights ago. 2 kids that play football.

$4000 per season, per child to play for a team.

Why?

US junior leagues are private enterprises (shock). The US equivalent of the Football Association offers no grassroots football, no level 1 to 3 cheap badges for Moms or Dads to take so they can coach the basics, no structure locally or nationally of organised leagues, just profiteers who start up a league, charge a fortune, and if you're a poor Messi-esque talent from the wrong part of Miami, sure you can buy a ball and play on a patch of grass, but forget organised football, you can't afford it.

So imagine, in a nation of 350 million, how many kids they're missing out on and will continue to after this successful World Cup for them.

Money, greed, pay to play.

99.9% of greats to play the game wouldn't have made it in America. Because they couldn't afford $4000 ( plus) to play. In subs my Mom probably paid £200 total over 6 or 7 years of junior football.

America, it's not all about money you know, it's about opportunity for all too. And you're pricing generation after generation out of the chance to be a part of this incredible sport you've seen first hand.

To the US Federation. Do fucking better. Organise local and national junior leagues, van profiteering, offer cheap coaching badges for parents who want to give their time for free to America's kids.

Football. Accessible to all.

[Stephen Hector @Stephenhhector]

@wiscomrade @chrisTHFC13 This is mine too. I might go Robertson over vdv

[Stephen Hector @Stephenhhector]

@chrisTHFC13 It’s often Porro that leads the on-field team talks too

[Stephen Hector @Stephenhhector]

@footballconfid1 Moura.

[Stephen Hector @Stephenhhector]

@talkSPORT Yawn

[Stephen Hector @Stephenhhector]

@coysliam I got smashed on Sunday and bought two non refundable tickets to Atlanta

[Stephen Hector @Stephenhhector]

@SlimChaeD @JoezMcfLy 😂

[Stephen Hector @Stephenhhector]

@StanCollymore I’ve watched this video at least 50 times. It’s a brilliant interaction

[Stephen Hector @Stephenhhector]

@LastWordOnSpurs That cannot be true

[Stephen Hector @Stephenhhector]

@georgeachillea Yes - thats it. We were on his case and Brentford appeared from nowhere.

[Stephen Hector @Stephenhhector]

@ElJefeAguila I've been to Mexico many, many times. Incredible country and beautiful people so this is both amazing and unsurprising!

[Stephen Hector @Stephenhhector]

@ClassicAdvertz This whole interaction is brilliant.

[Stephen Hector @Stephenhhector]

@iamblackwave @georgeachillea Agreed. I just want us buy an out-and-out striker, a 9. We're overloaded with winger/strikers like Tel, Odobert, Yang, etc

[🛸 @Roncomps]

Djed Spence vs Mexico

16 minutes played.

[__YC9__ @__YC9__]

“GORDON, f*ck you hahahaha’

That’s unreal 😭😭😭

[Stephen Hector @Stephenhhector]

@lbartolino Exactly. Exceptionally ignorant

[Stephen Hector @Stephenhhector]

Owen Hargreaves claiming altitude is “all in the mind” is exceptional

[Stephen Hector @Stephenhhector]

@RickySacks @Lilywhite_Rose 100%. An elite striker completes this team

[Stephen Hector @Stephenhhector]

@HotspurLane Leao