The most interesting aspect to talent spotting are those players that are continually left behind. The forgotten ones are almost always the youngest and smallest in a year group.



In England, where age-groups begin in September few players born in the second half of the year from March onwards make it into teams.

Those unfortunate to be born in June, July and August and who are also small in stature, seem to have two chances of making it into a development programme where selection plays a part – slim and none.



The irony is that if the year start date was changed to January the situation would be very different.



At the moment the vast majority of players selected by professional football clubs are born from September to December. If the age-group start date were changed to January, hardly any of those players would be singled out for selection.