Meet former Premier League ace giving Football Factory refusal from Cage's Lifeline

Bobby Bowry made his name in South London with Crystal Palace and Millwall.

Now the former midfielder from Croydon is looking to help the next generation of stars from the streets of London south of the river.

A vast talent pool has been thrust into the limelight after his appearance in Sky Documentaries' One Shot: The Football Factory. Filmed over 18 months, the show followsPremier Leaguewould-be stars as they hone their skills on artificial pitches and cages in South London.

They can catch the eye of club scouts and pave a potential path to stardom, while often offering a lucrative way to escape a difficult life.

South London has provided nearly 20% of all English Premier League footballers in recent years, with Camberwell duo Tammy Abraham and Jadon Sancho among the highest-profile players. One person.

But with every success, thousands are overlooked, and Bowry's Volenti is the academy who trains selected youths and who can still find showcases for arranging his matches. , from this group of hopefuls.

Former Premier League midfielder Bowley, 51, told Miller:

"I went to Palace at 19 and did my first training session with Ian Wright and Mark Bright and it was Dog Eat Dog.. If you don't club boys by age 12-13, they become very snobby and very difficult to get into the system - you are the exception.

``Some clubs win as many U8s and U9s as they can, but a surprisingly small percentage stay on the course. The Volenti football program, run by the London Voyage School, has been very successful for three to four years from U16 to U19.

"Last year we won four national titles, We've had a lot of success with the boys that came out of the system, and they've inspired them.The system is great, but it's great for the people who make it. have signed about 55 clubs, they will have a showcase game, this weekend the U18s will face Watford and already this season the U16s will face Portsmouth,

"We also drew with MK Dons and beat an elite center inSouthampton. We are not a football club, but we are a football club.

"Our job is to develop their skills and mentality and give some pro a little extra that his club has. That's it. They're only looking for one or two, so don't give away, many boys come to us for something special or a little bit of his TLC. "

Bowley and Volenti, who also coach girls, are now expanding their network, starting withWolves

in the Midlands where Kyle and Elliott have just partnered with Bennett." is. The

brother has completed more than 900 professional appearances in his career and has established a new '23 Academy' at Thomas Telford School in Shropshirewhere he once attended. raised.

Bennett hosted a free taster session this month ahead of the new Monday Night Academy in September. His Hednesford team-mate Leroy Lita, who played in the top flight for Reading and Swansea, was also on standby with Bowley to help the youngsters.

Another on 23 August. His 31-year-old Bennett, who conducts a free tasting session, said: he reaches that level.

"I feel it's missing. You can't promise someone anything or guarantee that they'll make someone a professional soccer player.

``I would never say that, but with training, coaching and confidence, kids can still have a future in the game. We are just an extension of that.”

Rita, 37, lives in London, runs an academy at Nuneaton and is a coach at Walsall. , has helped his friend Bennett in Telford. he said:

"It's just a shame that so much has been put into other things, because they have so much to give these young players. That makes a big difference."

"It's not something I can do half-heartedly, but I'm passionate about it. It's good to see young players trying to make their dreams come true."

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