By Football Wonderkids Speaking to Harry Hudson

20th Jun, 2022 | 8:00pm

Youth football expert hints at potential Kinetic Academy future expansion

We’re delighted to welcome the founder of Kinetic Academy Harry Hudson as our exclusive columnist. Each week the youth football expert will be giving his views on the biggest talking points on wonderkids across the UK…

The Kinetic Academy has been based in South London ever since it’s inception in 2011 but the charity’s founder can’t rule out an expansion.

Harry Hudson set up the Academy straight out of university and focused his efforts on the place he knew best which happened to be South London, just as the riots of 2011 ensued.

But despite those very cemented roots, the door is never going to be closed on the foundation moving elsewhere to offer disadvantaged people the chance to make their football dreams a reality.

It could even expand into other sports outside of football if the opportunity arises but the focus, for now, is all on the beautiful game.

“It was just what I knew,” Hudson said exclusively to The Football Wonderkids. “It was where I was working at the time.

“The Kinetic model one day could be picked up and moved to different parts of the UK, particularly urban areas no doubt.

“But there will always be intricacies with an environment that make it tick and I’ve known South London all my life.

“Never say never about moving into different areas and I also think that the model could work across sports as well.

“For now, though, I’m pretty busy as it is but never say never.”

As of Monday 20 June, 58 players have graduated from the Kinetic Academy to gain professional contracts with the latest being Makhaya James who penned a deal with Colchester United in League Two.

In other Kinetic Academy news, Hudson also revealed to us how a media “cry for help” inspired the creation of the charity.