Chris Graham hasn’t turned his back on local football yet.
The former Barbados Football Association general secretary might have opened another avenue for young players into pursuing their dreams of playing professionally in England after becoming a scout for the Leeds-based Richmond International Academic Soccer Academy.
Graham made the announcement just months following the highly-publicised fallout with BFA president Randy Harris that led to his departure from the post of general secretary.
Based in Headingley, the academy takes in 25 players a year with the primary goal of developing those routes into professional and semi-professional leagues.
The academy also features a training programme which helps players gain experience and development at a number of clubs, including Huddersfield Town, Sporting Chaleroi in Belgium and Bradford City which currently will allow prospective players to appear in its reserve side.
“This is but a small step but it’s still a plausible way to get into English football,” reasoned Graham.
“The challenge for us in this side of the world is usually finances, but this will prove great for poor people with great academic qualifications.
“There is a cost to it but this still represents a pathway into English football and not one that would leave you chasing a wild dream,” he added.
There are former academy players currently turning out for teams like Eccleshill, Garforth Town and Bradford City after those young footballers got their chance to showcase their skills in games at Hull City, Leeds, Blackburn Rovers, Barnsley, Bradford, Manchester City, Villareal and Ajax.
Graham is also in the process of working out an agreement with Deportivo Saprissa that will see Bajan players gaining attachments with the Costa Rican club in the foreseeable future. (JM)
