When you grow up playing to win, dealing with defeat isn’t easy. Especially if that defeat involves being dropped from a football club you have sacrificed so much to play for.

This is the issue which sits at the heart of a hard-hitting, heartbreaking new film, which is being released to highlight the devastating impact top-flight football academies have on young men when they drop those who don’t make it. A decision that can be life-changing, but which is met with no mental health support meaning the process can be difficult and traumatic to deal with.

The four-minute film, ‘Dropped’, exposes the harsh reality of the mental health issues currently running rampant in youth football, where children are brutally rejected at what is often the most vulnerable time of their young lives. The film tackles the impact of being deemed not good enough and highlights how the young hopefuls can be left feeling so heartbroken by rejection that some want to end their lives.

Over three-quarters of academy players are dropped between the ages of 13 and 16. Often, this happens with no warning and no support. While training focuses on building belief the truth remains that just 0.012% of academy players will ever turn professional. A disconnect which is having devastating effects on the lives of young players. 

The film, which highlights an issue that until now has had little attention, is the brainchild of Fulham FC academy player Max Noble. Noble was dropped at a young age after needing double knee surgery and went on to found the non-profit sports activism organisation Certified Sports, which aims to fight injustice in sports. The organisation is calling on all professional clubs to make aftercare a legal duty.

“Being dropped at such a vulnerable point in my life left me suffering from severe depression and anxiety,” explains Noble. However, he continues that his story is ‘far from unique’, adding: “Many young people are suddenly released from their contracts having built their entire lives and identities around football, sacrificing schooling, friends and family for the chance to ‘make it”.

Noble, who also played internationally for Wales had no academic, colleague or university qualifications and with no help from his former club found himself at the job centre. He began his career at Burberry, where he rose from intern to working in the design and development team. A grounding which enabled him to launch his own brand; Certified sports, the brand houses proceeds from the sales of its clothes to challenge sporting organisations to step up and support former players.  

The campaign was produced pro bono by House 337's Rob Sanderson who was recently shortlisted by British Young Arrows as best Director for the film.  

Noble hopes the film creates a sea change in attitudes. As he explains: “This brutal rejection of young people has to stop right now and clubs need to address the mental health issues that are running unchecked in youth football.”

The film bleakly outlines the catastrophic effect on some of the 99% of academy players released from their contracts - with many feeling so devastated by their crushed dreams and lack of aftercare that they feel they have nothing left to live for. With no help to seek alternative careers and non-existent mental health support, the film shows how abandoned and lost these vulnerable young people are when released from their contracts.

The film features voices detailing the deep depressions they fell into because of the lack of aftercare support, and how some contemplated taking their own lives - interspersed with newspaper cuttings of fellow former academy footballers who tragically succeeded. 

Jeremy Wisten, who was 18 when he took his own life after being dropped by Manchester City’s academy, and Josh Lyons, a former Tottenham Hotspur academy player who killed himself aged 18 after being let go, are among those to have suffered in recent years.

‘Dropped’ finishes with a call to action from Certified Sports demanding that aftercare for former players is made a legal duty for all professional football academies. 

Children can be officially signed by Premier League and Championship sides aged just nine – but some clubs have pre-academy development schemes for children as young as five. The contracts commit the kids to the academy four times a week, and many have been with a club for more than a decade when they are suddenly cut loose, often having sacrificed schooling for the chance to make it, focusing on football rather than academic qualifications. 

Rob Sanderson, Director at House 337, said: “The voices in the film are from the rare few who have found someone they can open up to. Shame, guilt and embarrassment normally keep these stories in the dark, but these testimonies are the norm, not the exception. Young people are led to sacrifice their education and futures by adults that are fully aware of the potential damage they are inflicting on them. Campaigns like Max’s, and the rise in awareness in mental health within football, will hopefully force these academies to finally take responsibility.”

Melody Sylvester, Head of Film at House 337, added: “Sport is often seen as a vehicle for enabling the natural talent of young people and a place for them to shine. We so often hear about success stories in football and how being discovered to play for your county or your country can change your life. But what about all of those with potential who do not get to realise their dreams?.”

Dropped will be debuted across Certified Sports social channels and website. #FootballAcademyAftercare #TogetherCertified