Chelsea has staff working in and around Hampshire, with Spurs doing something similar in Winchester. We currently have an ETC centre on a Thursday night for Hampshire boys to come along and receive additional coaching which obviously leads to player ID and recommendation for our academy at Cobham.
So they are slowly starting to take note of the pool of talent in Hampshire, which normally Southampton and Bournemouth lead the way in when recruiting young players.
I always feel uneasy when inviting a player up to our ETC or recommending to our Hampshire scout if I am impressed on a Sunday morning as its yet another player that should of been spotted by Saints and even Pompey (who by the way, have an awful, awful set up when it comes to ETC and academy).
Some of my boys from Hayling United are with Chelsea along with nippers from Pickwick Youth, Moneyfields, Fleur De Lys, Purbrook Athletic. It is just wrong.
If anyone does have a nipper ever invited to Portsmouth’s ETC or academy, PLEASE reject, it is god awful!!