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41

Why Birth Month Matters in Football Development Insights from Ajax Consultant Stephen Lawrence

April 29, 2023

In this episode, we sit down with Stephen Lawrence — Ajax Consultant and father of professional footballer James Lawrence — to explore one of the most overlooked factors in youth football development: birth month.

Listen on:

Why Birth Month Matters in Football Development Insights from Ajax Consultant Stephen Lawrence

About this episode

In this episode, we sit down with Stephen Lawrence - Ajax Consultant and father of professional footballer James Lawrence - to explore one of the most overlooked factors in youth football development: birth month.

Stephen explains how being born later in the academic year can create hidden disadvantages for young players in the UK system, affecting everything from physical comparisons and early selections to confidence, opportunity, and long-term progression.

In this episode

Why early-born players are often favoured in academies
How late-born players can bridge the gap
The psychological impact of selection bias
What parents and coaches can do to support late-born children
Lessons from Stephen’s journey raising a future professional

This is a must-listen for parents, coaches, and anyone working to understand the deeper patterns behind football development.

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Born in August? What a relative age expert wants football parents to know

The key lessons from this episode, written up for parents.

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3

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2

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1

Footballer Darius Charles talks about his son's journey into Football

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