Don't pass to a man; pass to a point in the future

Manchester City and Brazil forward has reiterated his belief in the role that Futebol de Salao played in his own footballing development, believing that the small-sided game helped his ascendency through the professional ranks. Robinho has mesmorised crowds since making his debut in Santos' Brazilian league championship final against Corinthians, a game in which the diminutive forward announced his arrival with eight successive step-overs, resulting in a foul that his side a...

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BSS Harrogate and Middlesbrough link imminent

Brazilian Soccer Schools (BSS) Harrogate are in preliminary discussions with Middlesbrough FC with a view to forging a development link which would see players continue to train under Stuart Owen before trialling for the Premier League club in their late teens. Stuart's BSS centre is one of the most successful and longest running within the world's largest football coaching scheme, with a side from the set-up defeating a Bradford City academy select 5-0 among others in r...

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Brooking slams FA youth set-up

Football Association director of football Sir Trevor Brooking has gone public with his increasing frustration at the governing body's inability to produce top-class English footballers. The problems within the domestic coaching structure have been well documented, from a failing academy system within the professional clubs to ineffective methods which Brooking has labelled as "hugely negligent", and the dearth of emerging talent culminated in England's failu...

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Bostock becomes youngest ever Spurs player

Brazilian Soccer Schools (BSS) graduate John Bostock made his first-team debut for Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday evening, with it becoming the club's youngest ever player. The youngster, who trained at BSS Lewisham for over three-and-a-half years, joined the north Londoners from Crystal Palace for an undisclosed sum in the summer, impressing in the youth ranks as well as internationally for England. He posses incredible ability with the ball at his feet having ...

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Clifford speaks with culinary role-model

I had the honour of speaking on the telephone this morning with Marco Pierre White. Marco has, since i began, been one of my heroes. Gilda Porcelli, whose Italian cafe is below our city centre offices, is Marco's godmother and for many, many years she inspired me with tales of him as a youngster, how he got going and developed his businesses. For me he's always been the best chef in the world and he was the youngest ever to get three Michelin stars. I...

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