It should come as no surprise that the same old codgers on the FA, who took just a couple of weeks to name Fabio Capello as successor to Steve McClaren as England coach, have been deliberating on the long term future of an English football academy for ten years!
Originally outlined in the, then FA Technical director, Howard Wilkinson’s Charter for quality in 1997, the FA purchased the 350 acre site in Burton in 2001. The centre was due to open in 2002, but was put on hold in 2004 with only the pitches and infrastructure completed. Wembley related financial problems were blamed for the set backs.
Sir Trevor Brooking the FA development director has urged the board to approve the much delayed project at this weeks board meeting.
“Burton is certainly up there with anything else we’re going to do,” said Brooking
“If we don’t get it right the England coach’s job will get that much harder.”
The academy, it is hoped, will eventually provide a string of quality players in the same way as France have from their own Clairefontaine centre.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said that the centre is crucial to the development of English football education.
Will they listen? I doubt it.
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