Transfer window of opportunity: Parents spend more time keeping up with their football club’s future than their own child’s
With football’s summer transfer window opening on Monday, new research has highlighted that parentsi are glued to the latest moves – but not the ones shaping their teens’ futures. Football mad parents spend nearly five hours more a month reading, watching or talking about the sport than they do reading about or speaking with their teenager about their future education and career options.
According to a Talking Futures study of 2,000 parents of teenagers aged 11 to 18, nearly seven in ten (69%) are football fans, who spend over 14 and a half hours a month keeping up to date with the latest news or watching matches – and an additional 13 hours talking about it.
Of all parents surveyed, even those who don’t follow football, a third (32%) were able to correctly name Jude Bellingham, Jack Grealish or Declan Rice as one of the three most expensive British footballers, yet only 15% could identify all of the post-16 education pathways available to their child. Which isn’t surprising because as many as 27% of parents surveyed agree that they read or speak about football more often than they do about their child’s future.
To help parents better support their child’s next steps Talking Futures has partnered with ex-footballer Rio Ferdinand, well-versed in big name moves himself, and the Rio Ferdinand Foundation to launch The Career Transfer Hub.
The new Hub will sit on the Talking Futures website, giving parents – even those who don’t follow football – access to information just like football agents have transfer insiders, negotiation teams, and career scouts. The Hub aims to support the 44% of parents who feel they would have more constructive conversations with their child about their future if information was more engaging and digestible.
Nearly all parents surveyed (96%) feel responsible for helping their teen make decisions about their post-16 options, but many don’t feel equipped for the job. Of the parents who don’t feel they have enough knowledge to effectively guide their teenagers’ next moves, over half (56%) admitted this is because they’re not familiar with newer qualifications like T-levels or HTQs, 46% say the advice they got when they were young feels outdated and 39% are unsure about what employers are really looking for today.
The study by Talking Futures also surveyed 1,000 teenagers, with almost six in ten (59%) saying their parents are their biggest influence when it comes to future plans. As many as 77% of teens say they’re excited about their future, but 85% would feel more confident making decisions if they had their parents’ support highlighting the importance of regular conversations.
Rio Ferdinand, football legend and founder of the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, commented:
“We all go mad for the transfer window, don’t we? Watching clubs line up the next big move, planning for the future. But as parents, the biggest window we’ve got is helping our kids figure out what’s next. Just like clubs scout talent and build for the long term, we need to do the same with our teens. That’s what the Career Transfer Hub is about, giving us the tools to help them make their next big move.”
Reshmin Chowdhury, sports broadcaster and journalist, commented:
“I know exactly how easy it is to get swept up in the transfer window drama – the rumours, the stats, the what-ifs. We put so much energy into analysing every move our team makes, but when it comes to our own teens’ futures, we often don’t give it the same attention. That’s why the Career Transfer Hub is such a great solution to getting parents – like me – more engaged. It’s time we used the same passion and time we give to football to help our teens take their next step. Whether it’s T-levels, apprenticeships, HTQs or other options, these are the real career-defining transfers – and our teens deserve our full support.”
Michelle Rea, director of communications at the Gatsby Charitable Foundation says:
“This research shines a light on how it can sometimes feel easier to stay on top of the careers of top footballers than knowing what the best options are for our own children’s futures. We hope this acts as a spark for parents, helping them realise just how important their role is in shaping those next steps. That’s exactly why we created the Career Transfer Hub.
“By borrowing from the excitement of the football world – from big moves to childhood dreams coming true – we’re showing parents that their teen’s futures can be just as thrilling as the back pages. The Career Transfer Hub gives parents the tools and knowledge to understand today’s technical education routes, and the confidence to see them as pathways to real success.”
To access the Career Transfer Hub visit: www.talkingfutures.org.uk
About Talking Futures
Talking Futures is a campaign by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation that aims to improve parents’ understanding of the education options available today – particularly high-quality technical qualifications like T-levels, apprenticeships and Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs), which research shows parents know less about – and encourage informed conversations with their teenagers.
