Video summary
Bobby Pointon reflects on his journey from joining the Bradford City academy at the age of seven, a path that began with a chance encounter between his grandfather and a scout who initially doubted his talent. Although he faced nervousness when stepping up to the proper academy as a young child, the welcoming atmosphere and familiar faces helped him settle in quickly. His early years were marked by significant challenges, including being held back a year due to physical immaturity, an experience that initially hurt his motivation but ultimately proved vital for his development. This period allowed him to compete effectively at both physical and technical levels, turning a perceived setback into one of the most important seasons of his career.
The academy environment played a crucial role in shaping not only his football skills but also his character, instilling values like humility and perseverance that kept him grounded throughout his rise to the first team. Pointon recalls specific moments, such as beating Sunderland in the FA Youth Cup followed by mandatory education sessions, which taught him to remain modest regardless of success. He credits influential figures like the late Neil Matthews for mentoring him daily during his scholarship years and emphasizing humility. Furthermore, he highlights the importance of the educational support provided by teachers, noting that even those who did not make it as professional players successfully transitioned into other careers thanks to the holistic approach of the club.
Looking back at his time in the academy, Pointon identifies playing at Valley Parade for the first time at age seventeen as a pinnacle moment after years of waiting, but he emphasizes that the true value lies in the continuous improvement demanded by the coaches. He acknowledges that many of the tough meetings and critiques he received were designed to push him beyond his limits, arguing that if everything had been perfect, he would not be as good as he is today. The club has seen massive improvements in recent years, with current academy players integrating seamlessly into the first team, a testament to the rising standard of local talent being developed from grassroots Sunday leagues where hidden gems often go unnoticed by other clubs.
Now having made over 100 appearances for Bradford City and living out his dream of playing in front of hometown fans, Pointon views his journey as proof that hard work and dedication can lead to success regardless of one's starting point. He advises younger players to reframe the negative experiences they face during their development as essential positives that contribute to their growth. His story serves as an inspiring marker for future academy prospects, demonstrating that a young lad from the grassroots can achieve greatness through listening to coaches and maintaining perseverance through every uphill battle. Ultimately, he believes that every bit of struggle paid off in his ability to play regularly for the club and represents what is possible for others willing to put in the necessary effort.
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Bobby, this week is the EFL's youth
development week, looking at players
raised in the AFL. So, we'll have a look
at your journey. How did you get started
out in our academy?
>> Um, yeah, I started in the uh pre-AC
Academy um when I was seven. Um and then
it got to under nines and um you got
given a decision whether you go through
or or not and thankfully I got um put
through to the academy but um there
weren't much change. It was uh very
similar to the pre- academy you know a
lot of um a lot of the kids who were
there with me there um also got through
as well. So um there weren't much
change. Uh there were some new lads who
come in and uh made the standard higher.
Um but yeah, I had to step up and um it
were a good experience at such a young
age.
>> How do you go about joining a pre-
academy? Um, so I was uh playing playing
on the field with my um with my granddad
and one of my uncles were a scout at the
time and um they were talking at my
granddad whilst I was messing about with
football and um he looked at me and
thought he's got a bit um went went back
to the head of academy and said um my
nephew can play and he didn't believe
him at first. He thought he were just
trying to get me in, you know, cuz I his
nephew and uh thankfully he gave me a
chance and the rest is uh history.
>> What were those first experiences like
when you stepped up to the proper
academy from pre- academy?
>> Um yeah, it were I were nervous at
first. It's uh a big step at such a a
young age. You know, I were only a young
kid at the time and um I just had to
deal with it. Took it in my stride and
um soon as I got there, I enjoyed it.
The coaches were welcoming. Um I already
knew some of the lads as well and um
yeah it were an enjoyable experience
playing othermies were uh new to me and
um they seem like massive games at the
time and it were very enjoyable.
>> What has the academy done to help you as
a person develop not only on the pitch
but off it?
>> Um when I was when I were in under 14s
it were a it were a big season for me.
Uh I got played down a year cuz I want
physically. um ready yet. And at the
time I thought it were a big negative
and it affected uh me mentally and a bit
of my motivation but um you know we got
on with it and um we played down that
season and looking back now it's
probably one of the most important
seasons for me. Um looking back I
weren't ready physically and playing
down here helped me a lot because I
could compete at the physical level as
well as the technical level and um yeah
it brought me on leaps and bounds.
>> Lots made about the uh culture and the
environment that created the academy.
What did that do to help you as well in
that time?
>> Um I think the biggest one down at the
academy is being humble. Um I think
that's helped me a lot uh as I've come
up to first team you know stay grounded.
um you know when when the positives come
um you can't you can't get too high on
it you know and I think the academy
taught us that um I remember we went to
Sunderland on a FA youth cup um they
were category one at the time we were
category three and we beat them um and
the next morning we were in for
education at half eight so just things
like that haveve have helped me loads
>> and I guess that environment like you
say a lot's been said about you weren't
necessarily the best at your level
throughout your time in the academy, but
obviously you've been the one that's
gone and made it. How much does that
environment help you in those moments
and help you make that step up?
>> Um, yeah, it's just a lot of it
perseverance. Um, I never had an easy
ride down at the academy and I think all
the coaches know that. Um, I always had
ups and downs and I had um tough times
at times, you know, I never I never had
meetings with the coaches and they were
saying you're ready this, you're ready
for that. Um it it were more you need to
improve on this or you're not going to
get through sort of thing and I worked
on every everything they told me every
single season and kind of um had an
uphill battle but come out on top.
>> Did that setting kind of help you fall
in love with the game even more and work
even harder?
>> Yeah. Um at the time it were a bit
annoying. Um always having to improve on
things but looking back at it now they
were doing it on purpose and it's helped
me loads. You know, if I were going into
them meetings and everything were
perfect, I wouldn't be as good as I am
now.
>> Been a lot of special people at the
academy, especially the late great Neil
Matthews. How much have they helped you
in your career?
>> Yeah, Neil Neil were brilliant with me.
Um, such a nice guy. Um, same again, he
kept you grounded. He was such a humble
guy and, uh, someone we all looked up
to. Um, so yeah, he were a massive part
of my time in the academy, especially
when I were a scholar scholarship. um
are around him every day and um took
great things from him.
>> There's a lot of stuff that people don't
know about about the academy where
you've got uh education, welfare, how
other people were special to you during
your time there. Yeah, there were um
there were some teachers there who were
who were big for us. Um you know, few of
the lads who I'm still mates with now um
who didn't make it. Um went to find
careers from from the educational side
that we got. Um I think every single one
of us in the team passed. So, uh the
teacher did did the job and um helped
them in different different careers. And
how important is the all the hours they
putting behind the scenes to helping
give you the platform to succeed?
>> Um, yeah, it's really important. Um,
they probably don't realize how
important it actually is cuz you don't
keep touch with everyone and stuff like
that, but like I said earlier, a few a
few of the lads who I know of um have
took that Btech into different careers
and and they're flying.
>> What experiences were the best for you
during your time in the academy? Um
first time playing at Valley Parade were
were the best. Um that were huge for me.
I I waited all them years to play there.
I there since 9. I didn't get to play
there till I was 17. So um I waited a
long time for it and thankfully I got to
score.
>> You've had two international callups as
well in the academy over the last 12
months. How much have you seen the
environment and the setting uh improve
during your time at the football club?
>> Yeah. Yeah, massively. Um there's lads
that come up with us now to the first
team and you know they don't look out of
place. Um you know the level's getting
better and better and the players coming
in are better and better and I'm sure
it's just going to go up and up.
>> A local yourself. How important is it to
scout the areas and get local players in
at the football club?
>> Yeah, very important. There's loads of
um loads of hidden gems out there. Um,
you know, I've got I've got family who
play Sunday league and when I go to
watch them, um, you see some players and
you think, "Wow, like they're going to
get picked up soon." And maybe they
won't because, you know, certain clubs
don't don't look down at grassroots.
They um they look elsewhere down to
Saturday leagues and stuff like that.
But I think it's really important to get
as much people out there as possible and
um hopefully find find really positive
careers. obviously over a 100 games now
for yourself here at Bradford City. How
proud are you of that? But also, how
much is it a marker to show what can be
achieved with hard work?
>> Yeah, it's uh something I'll always be
proud of. Um making over 100 appearances
and I think it's good for the lads in
the academy to um have a look and and
think that could be me. Um you know, I
was just a young lad playing grassroots
who got picked up and um there's loads
of there's loads of kids out there who
can do the same. you know, it's just
hard work and um listening to the
academy coaches.
>> But you get you're rewarded, don't you
feel that cuz you like you say, you're
living the dream now.
>> Yeah, 100%. Like I said earlier, at
times it were really annoying and um you
had to have a lot of perseverance and
every single bit of that paid off now.
Um you know, getting to play in front of
20,000 fans all the time, your own
hometown fans as well. Um every single
bit's worth it. Just finally, what
advice do you have now to the younger
lads that are maybe looking to have the
same path you've had?
>> Yeah. Um, I'd just say all the things
that you think are negative at the time
are a huge positive. It's just the
coaches putting time into you and uh
trying to improve everyone in different
ways.