Top Three Football Stadiums in the UK

If you are a fan of football, then chances are you know of the top three football stadiums in all of the United Kingdom: Wembley Stadium, nestled in the borough of Brent in London; Old Trafford Manchester United located in the Old Trafford section of Greater Manchester; and Liverpool's Anfield Stadium. These three stadiums have seen hundreds of riveting games, with each changing the history of United Kingdom football, and creating memories for all of the fans who have sat in the seats and witnessed the events.

Wembley Stadium has a long history, dating back to 1922, when ground was broken for the large arena that would open in 1923. The original building was demolished in 2003, and the new Wembley Stadium, larger than the first, with a seating capacity of almost 100,000, opened its doors in March of 2007, a year after the original estimated opening date. It is at the Wembley Stadium that the home games of the England national football team are played. Its predecessor, the original Wembley Stadium, was one of the most famous stadiums known in the world, and both are known as "The Home of Football". Wembley Stadium is probably most well known for being one of the seventeen stadiums to have held a FIFA World Cup Final.

Old Trafford, referred to as the "theatre of dreams", started out in the 1870's as a small field along North Road in Newton Heath, and was played upon by the Manchester United F.C. But visiting teams voiced many complaints about the field, referring to it as a mucky, rutted bog and a rocky, jutting quarry. It wasn't until 1902 that the stadium's future was certain. The team captain at the time, Harry Stafford, saved the land from certain bankruptcy, and six weeks before the FA Cup title in April of 1909, the land was officially named as the home of Manchester United. The purchase of the land happened then as well. In 1949 a good portion of the stadium was destroyed during a bombing in the Second World war, and over the course of the next fifty years the stadium was built upon and improved upon, and today it is at its best.

Liverpool is home to the well known Anfield Stadium, which has been around since 1884. Anfield is an association football stadium, and was originally the home of Everton F.C. In 1892 they vacated due to renting problems, and Liverpool F.C. took over and has remained ever since. In addition to hosting soccer events, Anfield has also been used for tennis and boxing matches. The stadium can seat around 41,000 people, but set a record with an impressive seating of 61,905 in 1952. Currently, there are plans being made to replace Anfield with a larger stadium, which would be located in Stanley Park. The new stadium would be able to hold 25,000 additional fans. At the moment, the plans are on hold, due to the unstable financial market and conflict between the club owners in the UK and those in the United States.

Football League - News, tables, scores and results.

Football Transfers - Up-to-date Football Transfer News, Rumours and Gossip.

Become a Professional Footballer: Three Footy Secrets for Aspiring Young Players

Becoming a professional player in any country, at any level, takes long-term dedication and determination to develop yourself as a player. It takes regular and progressive training under qualified accredited coaches. Players must have a positive attitude and good character, and always give a 100 percent effort in all training sessions and matches.

But it takes more than talent. Aspiring young professionals must either secure good, honest representation and football contacts, or tirelessly self-promote in order to secure the all-important trials with professional football clubs.

It is a harsh reality that only a small percentage of aspiring players make it to the signing of a professional contract. Young players need to understand this, and pursue a solid educational background in order to prepare for the likelihood of life outside of the beautiful game called football.

Now that we have covered the difficulty associated with this football dream, let's move on to discussing just how one may go about becoming a professional footballer.

1. Dedication & Determination - To become a professional athlete in any sport takes exceptional dedication and determination. Young people who are not willing or able to stay on course - no matter what - will not succeed in reaching their dream of becoming a professional player. The amount of training required quickly separates the willing and potential professionals from the unwilling amateurs. By simply dedicating yourself to full time participation in your football (soccer), you give yourself the opportunity for continued development.

2. Regular & Progressive Training - Professional footballers often point to a coach or coaches they had when they were younger that taught them well and motivated them on road to becoming a professional. Attaining qualified and accredited coaching from a young age (6-8 years old) and maintaining that over the important development years (8-17 years) is essential in a young person's football development.

While individual time with the ball mastering skills is also essential to becoming a pro, without the direction of an organized, competitive youth club football, it is unlikely a player will continue to play through college or make it to the pros.

For European-based players and other players around the world, the path to a professional career is quite different. In England, for example, young players hope to join a professional Club Youth Academy or School of Excellence.

Within the Academy system, players train between 5-10 hours per week, depending on age, in the hope of becoming one of the professional club youth scholarship players. At 18, deserving players are offered a "senior contract" and become an official professional player.

Ask yourself how your situation compares to a youngster who is spending at minimum 10 hours per week under the guidance of a professional coaching structure between the ages of 8 and 18 years old.

3. Positive Attitude - There will be challenging times while following your dream to play football professionally. Times when you will question yourself and ask if it is all worth it. It is important, at such times, to retain a positive attitude. Accept constructive criticism or rejection and use the knowledge gained to improve your game and mental strength.

Many professional players heard statements like "You aren't big enough" or "You just don't have what it takes to make it" before they made it to the pro ranks. The main reason they made it? They kept a positive attitude throughout their football development years and always believed in themselves.

Following these tips will help you increase your chance of making it in the world of professional football. Stay tuned for part two of this series!

EduKick International Football Academies (EIFA) offers academic year football development academies in England, France, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Mexico and Brazil. Contact EIFA at info@edukick.com or visit www.edukick.com.