Archer's Mark » football

Nike Academy – Hungry to Succeed

Steve — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:47:08 +0000

If you really want to make it in the pro game, sacrifices have to be made. For the Nike Academy's Ross Farran, that means moving from Manchester to London, and digging deep to find the inspiration he needs from the rest of the squad to finally make it in the pro game.

Click here to see the rest of the Academy season two films.

Nike Academy – Dealing with Disappointment

Steve — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:36:03 +0000

Every young player will get a kick in the teeth at some point in their career. It's how you deal with it that divides the true talent from the try-hards. That's Rio Ferdinand's message, as he meets the young hopefuls on the brink of the pro game in the Nike Academy, season two.

Nike Academy – The Season Ahead

Steve — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:30:01 +0000

The new Academy season has started - and with Jordan Rose from last season's squad now signed as a pro, the expectations of this year's intake are higher than ever. A rigorous training camp at Manchester United's Carrington facility gave the lads the kickstart they needed for the year ahead - and you can catch the rest of the Academy's second season of films here.

Nike Academy vs Wycombe Wanderers

Steve — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 14:51:09 +0000

The first big game of every season is always a tester, but sometimes the result doesn't work out quite the way you planned it. That's what the Academy lads learned the hard way, as they went up against a skillful Wycombe Wanderers side, and got taken down 3-1.

Catch the other season two updates here.

Nike Academy 2010/11 – Ready to Deliver

Steve — Mon, 24 May 2010 11:52:23 +0000

After a debut season packed with blood, sweat and tears, the 2010/11 programme for Nike's Academy initiative is finally here. We produced this teaser for the year ahead - and with a new squad primed to outperform last year's young stars, it's already shaping up to be something pretty special...

To see all the Academy films, click here.

If it's only season two you're after, then this is where it's at.

Nike – The Chance teaser

Steve — Mon, 24 May 2010 11:42:47 +0000

By the time Nike's worldwide talent search - The Chance - is over, 100 players will have been chosen to trial for the Nike Academy. Only 8 will have signed a contract. With odds like that, you better bring your 'A' game, and pull out every skill you've got. For the winners, a season with the Nike Academy awaits.

With that in mind, check out the films from the second Academy season here.

Nike Academy – Old Trafford showcase

Steve — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 12:46:28 +0000

Old Trafford is known as the Theatre of Dreams for a reason - there's no bigger venue in football, and no bigger stage for the Academy squad as they make their final bids for a pro contract.

Check out the rest of the Nike Academy films here.

Nike Football – Tear up the Pitch

Steve — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 14:23:54 +0000

Nike's 'Tear up the Pitch' campaign brought together some of the quickest young whipper-snappers from around the UK and culminated with an exclusive event in East London. Arsenal's Andrei Arshavin was on hand to offer some pro insights as regional finalists battled it out for a place on a training camp at Barcelona F.C.

If you like dub-step, you might want to crank this one up...

Nike Academy – Barcelona Training Camp

Steve — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 13:31:13 +0000

You can't just walk through the front door of the best club in the world - so when the Nike Academy were invited to visit Barcelona's training complex, expectations were as high as the security at the front gate. And with the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Andrés Iniesta training on the next pitch, an exhibition match against Barcelona B played host to the sublime skill and killer instinct you'd expect from a team brought up in the image of Head Coach Pep Guardiola.

Click here to see the rest of the Academy films.

Nike Football – Robbie Keane’s Killer Penalties

Steve — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:02:44 +0000

Penalty takers don't come much better than Robbie Keane, so spending a morning watching him thrash one spot kick after another past a pair of semi-pro 'keepers was educational to say the least. Robbie doled out a whole heap of penalty-taking tips, with young players able to download the film and improve their game as part of Nike's Master Accuracy iPhone app.

Nike Academy vs Southend

Steve — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 12:00:58 +0000

With the memory of a thumping defeat against Cheltenham still fresh in their minds, the Nike Academy lads made a winning start to the new year with a comprehensive win at Southend United. Even the bleak weather couldn't dampen Academy spirits, as Dooby bagged a brace against his old club, and the pain of previous defeats was exorcised once and for all.

Click here to see the rest of the Academy films.

Nike Academy – Dealing with Defeat

Steve — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:00:51 +0000

Riding high after victory against Nottingham Forest, the Academy boys came crashing back down to earth against Cheltenham where they were on the wrong end of an 8-1 thumping. Time for coaches Dean and Jon to step up and deliver the mutha of all teamtalks...

Follow the full Academy story here.

Nike Academy – Dean Smith’s 4Rs

Steve — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 12:00:25 +0000

When you're playing at the highest level, it all comes down to technique - that's the message from Dean Smith, the Academy Head Coach. At his latest session, the lads learn the benefit of brushing up on their 4Rs (Receiving, Releasing, Retaining and Running with the ball) as they pursue a starting position in the side.

To see more from the Nike Academy, click here.

Nike Academy vs Nottingham Forest

Steve — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:00:27 +0000

After a thriller of a 3-3 draw against Brighton, the Nike Academy had it all to prove against a young Nottingham Forest side. But with Academy Director Huw Jenning's tactical plan ringing in their ears, the side turned on their best display of the season, scoring five and stringing some sublime passing moves together.

Click here to see the rest of the Academy films.

Nike Academy – Jon Goodman’s Physical Conditioning

Steve — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:00:36 +0000

Having conceded a late, late equaliser in their first match, the Academy lads learned the hard way how important physical conditioning is even with only a few minutes on the clock. And with another big game against Nottingham Forest on the horizon, that lesson was rammed home by Performance Director Jon Goodman at the lads' next training session.

Click here to see the rest of the Academy films.

Nike Academy vs Brighton

Steve — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 12:00:12 +0000

After weeks of bonding, the Academy lads finally faced their first test as a team - a tough away fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion. And with Head Coach Dean Smith still deciding his first starting eleven, tensions - and expectations - were running higher than ever.

Click here to see the rest of the Academy films.

Nike Academy – Training for Selection

Steve — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:00:04 +0000

After spending a weekend at Manchester United's training ground [link], the Academy lads got straight into preparation for their first game of the season. With competition for places in that crucial starting eleven heating up, the standard was high - and the pressure to perform even higher.

Click here to see the rest of the Academy films.

Nike Academy – Carrington

Steve — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 12:00:48 +0000

If you're an aspiring young pro with a hunger to be the best, where better to go for your pre-season training camp than Manchester United's training ground at Carrington? That's where the Nike Academy took their first session of 2009, benefitting from the expertise of United's First Team Coach René Meulensteen, as well as the state-of-the-art facilities on offer.

To see more from the Nike Academy, click here.