Too often, football players stay within their comfort zones. It can difficult to do something new, especially when you have done the same thing for so long. I have seen plenty of talented young football players fail to reach their goals, because they have stayed in one place. Playing football abroad can change all that.

Many times, players miss out on opportunities to become successful football players, because they don’t go abroad. I see players every year get out of their comfort zone and go on trial with football teams thousands of miles away from where they grew up. Many of the Premier Football UK success stories come from players from the Caribbean, Australia and Asia. Their success is from choosing to play football abroad, and not to accept missing out on a professional career.

One of the great stories of a player going abroad was that of former United States international Jay DeMerit. The now retired defender had been playing in the youth team of Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire. Yet, the team was uninterested in him once he left the youth ranks.

DeMerit dreamed of playing professionally, and was able to land a trial in England while working as a bartender. His trial with Southall was a success, and DeMerit began a journey from the ninth-tier of English Football all the way up to the Premier League with Watford, and on to the US national team.

DeMerit’s decision to go abroad to play football proved the Chicago Fire were wrong not to sign him. It also showed that moving out of his comfort zone helped the American reach heights he never would have previously.

I encourage players to go and achieve their dreams, and to build a career. You never now what can happen when go for it. That is why Premier Football UK sets up trials for players in Spain, the Netherlands, England, Asia and more countries. There is a team out there, but you have to go and get it, if you want it badly enough.