World-beaters of the future

By Trevor Haylett

Famous uncle
Just seven years old, Iowbi has just been signed by the London club after he scored 33 goals to help his junior side, Rippleway, win their league. The fact that he is the nephew of Nigeria's Jay-Jay Okocha would suggest he has a better chance of making it into the professional ranks than most, although Arsenal say they had no knowledge of his family connections when they signed him to their academy.

Sensible investment
Interest in acquiring the best young players - even those who are still some way short of their tenth birthday - has never been so intense with clubs aware that there are many advantages to be gained from getting boys on board at the earliest opportunity. From a financial point of view it makes sense, possibly saving clubs millions later on if they can nurture a budding star on their own doorstep.

Young talent
In England the earliest a youngster can join a club's academy is at the Under-9 age group. That means, in the case of Norwich City FC, that they are signing up a current batch of boys aged eight for next season's U9s, boys they have scouted on a regular basis since the age of seven. According to Sammy Morgan, the academy director at the East Anglian club, their nine-year-olds will undertake three hours of coaching every week with a game scheduled for the Sunday.

Fun at first
"The emphasis at this age is on fun," he told uefa.com. "I get annoyed when people knock the academy system and say that clubs are producing clones. We want our boys to express themselves and get enjoyment from their football. The time to take a more serious approach is when they reach the age of 14."

Hot TIPS
Norwich use the TIPS method patented by AFC Ajax to pick out promising youngsters. "We look at technique, intelligence - and by that we mean footballing intelligence and awareness - personality, which covers desire and a love for the game, and finally speed, which also includes general athleticism, mobility and flexibility," said Morgan.

Key attributes
"Those attributes will already be obvious in a boy at seven and the chances are that they will stay with him for the rest of his career. With technique you have a chance to improve through hard work and dedication but if, for instance, you haven't got that desire and a love for the game at seven who is to say it will come to you at 14?"

Lengthy connection
Parents are brought up to date with the progress of their boys at twice-yearly meetings, and by the third Saturday in April the club has to make a decision about whether to register the player for the following year's age group. Norwich are particularly proud that their Under-18 team which took on Manchester United FC in this season's FA Youth Cup, contained eight players in the starting XI who had been with the club since the age of nine.

Long-term commitment
Ian Henderson and Ryan Jarvis, two of the current first-team squad who are leading Norwich's race for promotion to the Premiership, have also been at the club since long before their teens. For Norwich, at least, seeing the potential in talented children is a long-term investment that is paying off.