We recently caught up with Toby Williams, who joined us in Year 9 in September, to talk about how he came to be signed with Crystal Palace Football Academy's U14 team and part of the club's player pathway.
Toby talked passionately about how much he loves playing football and always has, ever since he started playing aged 4 with a Little Kickers group. He then joined a local team and at age 9 was asked to join Chesham United. He moved to Wycombe Town age 10 although the covid pandemic hit which stopped play for a short while. At age 12, whilst playing for Naphill FC, he was scouted to attend a Crystal Palace Showcase which was the start of his player pathway journey.
Toby trialled for MK Dons Academy and was also offered a place with Fulham but due to his close connection with Palace he decided to officially sign with them at age 13½. Toby, now 14, players as a striker and has had a strong start to the season with the team, winning all but one of the 19 games played so far and scoring at least one goal in 17 of those matches.
Toby has had a positive start to life at Shiplake and comments on the warmth of the school and how everyone is so nice. His Orchard Housemaster, Mr Andy Jones, adds: "Toby is an extremely passionate and dedicated student both academically and on the sports pitch. He brings a positivity to the house and indeed Shiplake College’.
He trains four to five times a week at Crystal Palace, with fixtures on Sundays. Mr Claridge and Mr Jones recently went to support him when he played Queens Park Rangers Academy, although Toby says 'my mum and dad are my absolute biggest supporters', and he his thankful to his dad for driving him everywhere!
At the end of this season he hopes to be re-signed and gain a two-year contract or even get a four-year scholarship, and at age 16 he would be eligible to start being paid. It is no surprise that Toby is aiming to be a professional footballer in the future, ideally for Man City, although perhaps he will find himself at Tottenham Hotspur, the club that he has always supported growing up!
We wish Toby good luck with the rest of the season.