BURNLEY are launching their own version of Britain’s Got Talent, to uncover the next generation of Premier League stars.
The Clarets have responded to the lack of football at school and youth levels by giving youngsters a chance to earn academy spots by displaying their skills online.
Sean Dyche is on the hunt for new footballing talentCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Simon Cowell could have competition on his hands from an unlikely sourceCredit: Splash News
Players over 14 will be able to download a special app developed by tech experts AiSCOUT, which will steer them through a series of drills designed to test their ability to the full.
And the footballing wannabes who impress the club’s coaches most will be invited to Turf Moor for trials, with places at their Category 1 Academy up for grabs.
New Burnley owners ALK Capital have invested heavily in AiSCOUT, and plan to make the app available abroad too, so the Clarets can attract young talent from Europe and beyond.
Chairman Alan Pace said ALK were determined to use their info expertise to help the club tap into the pool of young talent.
He said: “This is a first opportunity for us to introduce new data-led technologies into the football club and promote Burnley to the wider football world, giving aspirational young players across the world an opportunity.
“With the pandemic currently leading to a suspension of youth football in Lancashire – and across the UK – this trial represents an opportunity for football players to complete a set of drills in their own environment.
“That could end with them being scouted by a Premier League club. and we look forward to expanding the programme throughout 2021. “
Burnley’s academy manager, John Pepper, gave the scheme a big thumbs-up.
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Room for a new face on the panel?Credit: Handout
He said: “We’re delighted to partner with AiSCOUT, and this represents an exciting opportunity to expand our academy scouting network beyond Burnley, and benefit from cutting edge technology.
“I look forward to welcoming a selection of young players to the Barnfield Training Centre later in the year, and assessing the talent on offer.
“And hopefully, ending the search by offering a place in our academy to a player with the talent to follow their dreams into the Premier League.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
