DROPPED

A hard-hitting, heartbreaking new film 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 and give them no mental health support to deal with what is often a life-changing and traumatic decision.

The beautifully shot but harrowing 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.

More than three-quarters of academy players are dropped between the ages of 13 and 16. Often, this happens with no warning and no support. Just 0.012% of academy players will ever turn professional.

The eye-opening film is the brainchild of former Fulham FC academy player Max Noble, who was dropped at a young age after needing double knee surgery. It was made for the non-profit sports activism organisation he founded, Certified Sports. Which is demanding that aftercare be made a legal duty for all professional football academies and was produced pro bono by House 337’s Rob Sanderson who was recently shortlisted by British Young Arrows as best Director for the film.