The football system is good at creating pathways in. Players Platform Group exists because very few people were building pathways forward.
3min read
Why I Started Players Platform Group
People often see football from the outside the contracts, the highlights, the success stories.
But after years of coaching and scouting within organisations like Brentford FC, Barnet FC, Crystal Palace FC and West Ham United FC, I saw another side of the game that many people don’t talk about enough.
I saw talented young players being released from academies at 16 and suddenly having to figure life out overnight.
Some moved into college football.
Some tried to find another club.
Some managed to secure scholarships.
But many were left without structure, guidance, or the right environment to continue developing.
What stood out to me even more was what happened at 18+.
There are pathways and support systems spoken about for younger academy players, but once players reach 18 and are released, opportunities become far more limited. The reality is that many talented players fall through the cracks at that stage not because they lack ability, but because they lack the right support, exposure, environment and direction.
That’s where the vision for Players Platform Group came from.
I wanted to build more than just a football programme.
I wanted to create an environment that supports players during one of the most difficult transitions in their careers.
An elite 18+ platform focused on:
▪️professional standards
▪️development
▪️exposure
▪️structure
▪️mindset
▪️opportunity
▪️support beyond just football
Because talent alone is not enough. Players need guidance, belief, and an environment that keeps them progressing when the system no longer provides it.
My background in coaching and scouting allowed me to understand how the football system works but more importantly, where it sometimes fails players.
Players Platform Group was built to help bridge that gap.
This is for the players who still believe in their ability.
The players who need another opportunity.
The players who need the right environment to keep moving forward.
That’s the mission behind Players Platform Group.
Kevin Lema
Founder, Players Platform Group
