“Six months after captaining West Ham and featuring in the Youth Cup I found myself delivering pizzas for Domino’s,” recalls Iyiola Adebayo.

Adebayo entered the academy at age eight that had already produced talents such as Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole and Declan Rice. The midfielder from Tilbury earned a scholarship ahead of his peers and seemed destined for similar success. A shoulder dislocation disrupted his first year and although he played for the under-21 and under-23 sides he was let go at sixteen.

“The club believed a change of surroundings might help me progress after so many years in one place,” he explains. “It proved difficult especially regarding my sense of self because I had always been known as the player from West Ham.”

Still recovering from injuries that marked his final seasons Adebayo attended numerous trials at reduced fitness levels and struggled with repeated setbacks.

“Traveling alone to unfamiliar locations while unable to perform at full capacity took a mental toll,” he notes. “Discussions with my mother and friends highlighted my low mood and occasional desire to return home early. Those moments were hard.”

To support himself Adebayo took part-time pizza delivery work. The former head of education at West Ham then encouraged him to join the Premier League Futures programme though Adebayo hesitated at first because it stirred memories of his release.

Launched in 2017 the programme fulfills academies’ three-year aftercare duty for players released between under-17 and under-21 ages. It introduces alternative career routes and includes support for under-16 players without contracts plus a year-long scheme for those aged 18 to 24.

For Adebayo the experience proved transformative. He is completing a sponsored degree in football business and marketing at the University Campus of Football Business while leading mental health and lifestyle workshops for academy players through Sporting Chance.

He first noticed the charity at a Premier League youth development conference attended via the Futures programme.

“I contacted them after my release because I felt anxious about football and received counseling,” he says. “Their presence stayed with me and I now deliver sessions on academy pressures including peer influence and performance demands. Being close in age helps players relate to the advice.”

The 23-year-old credits the programme with revealing diverse career options. “I once believed the choices were limited to coaching playing kit management or physiotherapy. Discovering numerous well-paid fulfilling roles in the sport prepared me to seize new chances.”

Neil Saunders the Premier League’s director of football who himself studied at Bath after release from Watford notes growing focus on guiding players toward education and industry roles.

“Few reach the first team yet we aim for every academy graduate to reflect positively on their time,” he states. “Many spend years inside academies and gain expertise in analysis conditioning or coaching. We strive to open doors beyond playing.”

Adebayo now plans ahead. “The programme broadened my knowledge sharpened my abilities and left me hopeful,” he concludes. “I aim first to work in player care then perhaps move into commercial or business areas of sport. It shows involvement in football can take many rewarding forms.”