Lucas Blake opens up on the difficulties of being released from academy football and the saving grace of ProChance. Harry Day reports from the University of Derby, Kedleston Road
“I just wanted to dive back into football.” Those were the words of 18-year-old Lucas Blake speaking about his release from the Notts County academy.
“I kind of lost a little bit of confidence, to be honest, going from the injury back in and trying to get back into the team,” says Blake. “But I thought that I ended the season pretty strong, so I think that is the frustration.”
It is no secret that the youth setup in England is ruthless, as many are forced to face the same reality that Blake did each season. For some, their heads drop as the pathway to professional football seemingly dissolves right in front of them.
But this is not the case for the left-back, who has now joined ProChance as he continues to work towards his dream of playing football at the highest level that he can, regardless of what that level is.
Released from Notts County, having spent time out due to injury, Blake explained his frustration at how his time at the club ended. “I think that did affect me,” Blake says. “It was just the way they told me; it was like if this (injuries) did not happen, it could have come out differently.”
This setback early in his career did not faze the full-back. Determined, he got straight back to work. “You are going to have a period where you are a bit upset, but after that, you have got to just work your hardest like you have done before, and it will work out eventually.”
Resilience is something that many young footballers require in abundance to succeed in the game, and it was an attribute that ProChance’s summer signing highlighted as helpful in many walks of life. “I feel like in any workplace, even if it is not in football, resilience will help you a lot,” Blake says. “Even if you are in a bad patch, just going out and doing extras, even if it is a laugh like a shooting game with someone or a passing drill, it benefits you in the long term.
Blake is one of ProChance’s newest recruits, as the team look to build on the successes of their title-winning campaign last season. The full-back has featured for the team on multiple occasions, including pre-season, and is pleased with how his time at the club is going. “I have really enjoyed it, to be fair,” Blake says. “I was playing non-league and training once a week, so just coming back into full-time football was really enjoyable.”
The 18-year-old is enjoying his time under Liam Sutcliffe, crediting his new head coach with getting the best out of his squad. “I have enjoyed it,” says Blake. “He knows how to get the best out of players. He wants you to try your best so you can get the best out of yourself.”
It is a mentality that Blake says helps him and many others. “I think that does work for players and for me as well. I do like that because I want to try one hundred per cent all the time and see how far I can get in football, so I think it benefits me a lot.”
Mentality is a core belief of Blake, a youth coach at Ilkeston Town, as he alludes to the fact that maintaining a positive mindset is crucial in football, more so than ability itself. “I would say it (mentality) is more important (than ability) to be honest,” says Blake. “You can have talent, but if you do not work with the talent, it is not going to get you anywhere. If you work as hard as you can, that could get you further than someone who has more talent than you but does not choose to work.
Blake’s quality has also been highlighted by ProChance teammate Will Street. “We link up quite well,” Street says. “He is good, he has got quality. He has played for Notts County in the past, so he has got the experience.”
Happy with where he is at, Blake takes a look back on how his time at Notts County ended, concluding that he does not have any regrets on how this chapter of his journey has been written. “If I look back now, I would not have any regrets, though, because I feel that has shaped me.
“You have got to feel the lows to feel the highs.” This is a sentiment that Blake, like many others in his position, carry with them. He has not let the setback of the release define him as he continues the pursuit of a dream desired by so many.
