Spend less time on Xbox – and more time in the penalty box, says Ritchie
SCOTLAND WINGER CALLS FOR KIDS TO INVEST TIME IN LEARNING FUNDAMENTALS
MATT Ritchie believes youngsters who want to become professionals should spend less time on the PlayStation and more time playing football in the park if they are to achieve their ultimate goal.
The Newcastle United ace, along with Dwight Gayle, Matt Ritchie and Paul Dummett, has set up a football academy on Tyneside and hopes the scheme will help produce some of the stars of tomorrow.
Grassroots football remains a big attraction for kids on Tyneside but Ritchie is hoping to help some youngsters make it to the next level and possibly earn professional deals later in life.
However, to make it at the very top, Ritchie feels that journey begins in the park – and not opting for career mode on various football games online.
Midfielder Ritchie said: “I never bothered with PlayStation or the Xbox.
“I was always just outside with a ball, it is probably why I am where I am today.
“It was just practice, practice, practice.
“The PlayStation is what it is - we want to get kids on the pitch training and enjoying football.
“Hopefully, they will choose to play in the park rather than on their consoles.”
The FA have tried to tackle the dip in interest levels in football across England in recent years with every major tournament KO met with a national outcry about the lack of youngsters participating i n grassroots football.
Ritchie said: “Me personally? I never stopped.
“I always had a ball with me. I think that is where you learn your technique and become comfortable with the ball. “The sort of drills we will be doing are to do exactly that. “We want to give kids the platform to go home and practice tricks. “They need to know the basic skills which will carry them through their career if they have one. I think anybody who wants to be a footballer needs to know how hard you must work. “I have played with people who were a lot better than me who have not made it because they are not dedicated. “You have to have that desire to want to achieve something special. “We are now in a privileged position because we have done that.” Ritchie has been working tirelessly throughout the summer on the Newcastle Elite Academy, which has resulted in scores of youngsters
Anybody who wants to be a footballer needs to know how hard you must work ... You have that desire Matt Ritchie
working with top coaches at Northumbria University.
Courses are also planned in September, then during the October half-term, while there will also be BTEC course starting for 16 to 18-year-olds at Northumbria.
Speaking about the project, ex-Bournemouth man Ritchie said: “This is a football city and it is good we can give back something.
“We want to give back what we have taken from our careers so far and I think the opportunity for us is we can provide the kids with a great environment now.
“Some grassroots teams and organisations cannot because they do not have the backing but we are in a position where we can.
“It makes a big difference to go somewhere that the coaching is good and the equipment is good.
“The organisation is spot on and will stand the kids in good stead for the future.
“As much as we want the kids to enrol and have fun, this is always about development and improving as a player.
“It is there for the children to enjoy but at the same time improve and develop their skills quickly and at high level.”
For more information on the course, go to www.newcastleeliteacademy.co.uk