04/04 - click for hi-res

[this turns out crappier than the others, so I typed out this one]

That’s the confidence which will make them good players, as long as they learn as well.’

Guidance is vital for a young footballer and having someone to speak to who has been through it all in the past can give anyone the confidence they need to face up to the daunting situation of breaking into the first-team game.

Having come through the ranks himself, Terry is keen to be there to support the current crop of Academy players, particularly when it comes to FA Youth Cup games held at the Bridge.

‘I speak to Bathy [Academy manager Neil Bath] and [youth-team coach] Dermot Drummy regularly as well to keep in touch with what they’re doing over in the Academy.

‘It’s important that we’re there for the boys when they play in the Youth Cup because I’ve been in their situation and, when you look up to see first-team players in the dressing room, it’s really important to you.

‘When I was their age I made mistakes but I had people like Wisey, Marcel [Desailly], Graeme Le Saux and Franco Zola to stop me in my tracks and tell me what I needed to do. Now I Try to be there for the lads like those guys were there for me.

‘I care about this football club more than anybody, I love the club and I really want to help these youngsters come through.’

(Source: captaintwentysix)