The Dream Factory
Inside the Make-or-Break World of Football's Academies
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Polaris Publishing Limited
Published:26th Aug '21
Should be back in stock very soon
Exploring the inner workings of football academies, The Dream Factory reveals how future stars are shaped and the challenges they face.
The book The Dream Factory offers an in-depth exploration of the intricate world of football academies, providing readers with a unique perspective on how the next generation of football stars is developed. It takes you behind the scenes to reveal the processes and challenges faced by young athletes striving to make their mark in the competitive landscape of professional football. Through detailed accounts and interviews, the narrative uncovers the various facets of youth training and the impact it has on players' lives both on and off the pitch.
Within the pages of The Dream Factory, readers will meet a diverse cast of characters, including players, coaches, and academy directors who play pivotal roles in shaping the future of football. The book highlights the journeys of well-known players like Marcus Rashford and Trent Alexander-Arnold, illustrating the intricate balance between talent development and the pressures associated with it. It sheds light on the emotional and psychological aspects of growing up in the spotlight, as well as the social responsibilities that come with success.
This insightful work not only chronicles the rise of individual talents but also critiques the academy system as a whole. The Dream Factory invites readers to consider what it truly means to nurture young potential in a high-stakes environment, making it an essential read for football enthusiasts and anyone interested in the complexities of youth sports development.
'A forensic insight into how our football academies operate. Every angle covered by a splendid author'
-- Daniel Taylor * The Athletic *'What a book: Ryan Baldi has the reader living the blood, sweat, tears, triumph and despair of chasing the ultimate dream of making it'
-- Jamie Jackson * The Guardian *'An in-depth look at the youth game, in conversation with the people who know it best. Baldi has gone deeper than anyone before to understand what really goes on inside academies'
-- Adam Bate * Sky Sports *'The Dream Factory goes beyond the glamour and gives a real insight into how football works. There are very few fairy tales. It is an important book for anyone who cares about the game and a must-read for any parent whose child dreams of being a star'
-- Tony Evans * The Independent *'Ryan Baldi's The Dream Factory is an engrossing, gripping look into the underworld of academies. This book should be read by every coach, player, parent, and anyone who loves football and cares about the exploitation and capitalism rampant in these institutions. The next generation deserves better'
-- Mirin Fader * The Ringer *'This is one of the most holistic books on academy football I've ever read. It is all here, the scenery, emotion and triumphs of our youth game, delivered in the craftsman fashion that Ryan Baldi is now rightly known for'
-- Daniel Fieldsend, author of The European Game: The Secrets of European Football Success'Tells a story never told before in quite such forensic detail, full of glory and heartache. Exhaustive, comprehensive and detailed'
-- John Nicholson, author of Can We Have Our Football B- Short-listed for Sunday Times Football Book of the Year 2022
ISBN: 9781913538392
Dimensions: 234mm x 156mm x 1mm
Weight: 484g
352 pages