My son’s an Arsenal star hoping to break into first-team – I got a master’s degree and passed Fifa exam to be his agent

A PARENT will do whatever they can to support their child in life.

It’s a lesson Myles Lewis-Skelly’s mother, Marcia, is very familiar with.

Instagram @no1fan.clubArsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly with his agent mum, Marcia[/caption]

GettyLewis-Skelly has joined Arsenal’s pre-season tour[/caption]

The Arsenal youngster, 17, has joined the club’s pre-season US tour in the hopes of impressing boss Mikel Arteta enough to convince him to hand him some minutes in first team next season.

However, it has been a long road to get here which has seen Marcia take up a stunning new career into a world that was initially completely foreign to her.

Speaking to The Athletic, Marcia – who had a background in learning and development and headed up a technology training department in an investment bank – revealed how she has navigated the football industry as Lewis-Skelly’s agent.

She said: “I remember I was driving the car, Myles was on tour in Spain. The phone rang and a voice said, ‘Hi, I’m calling about Myles’.

“I was worried, I thought maybe something was wrong. But then they told me they were an agent, and said they wanted to start building a relationship.”

Despite agents not being allowed to engage with a player until the January of the year they turn 16, it does not deter potential suitors from putting out feelers of representation.

The agent named several big stars who they represented, but to a football novice like Marcia they meant very little.

Lewis-Skelley joined the Gunners academy at Under-9s level following trials with Chelsea and Tottenham, and his rising stock started to attract interest from would-be suitors and brands.

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Instagram @myleslewisskellyMarcia, left, took Fifa’s agent exam to represent her son[/caption]

Marcia said: ” When he was 12, a top sports brand wanted to sponsor him.

“At various points, I felt unprepared to make decisions that could impact Myles’ future.

“There was no trusted advice, no network to consult, and no family connections in the football industry. I felt I needed to protect him.”

It was a decision Lewis-Skelly can look back on with happiness, saying: “Mum didn’t tell me those things, and that was fine. I didn’t care. I just love to play football. That’s really it.”

The secret weapon of Marcia and Lewis-Skelly’s father turned out to be seeking the advice of other parents involved in the game, which Marcia recalls provided “comfort and gave me confidence”.

However, Marcia went a step further and sought to educate herself on the industry her son was set to enter, and in 2020 she took up a masters degree in football business and studied “crazy hours” for Fifa‘s football agent exam.

Marcia is now Lewis-Skelly’s formal representative thanks to this education.

She said: “There are plenty of great agents, but his dad and I needed more time to build those relationships — and to properly understand what agents do.

“It’s such a big decision that we wanted that extra time… I took my exam, not really as a driver to represent Myles, but to gain that knowledge for us.”

With 3.5 million kids playing organised football every week, Marcia has aimed to share her knowledge and experience in the industry.

SunSport’s verdict on Arsenal stars

Mikel Arteta is looking to get Arsenal ready to beat Man City to the title after another near miss, but he may need to be brutal with his squad in order to do so. Here’s SunSport’s verdict on who should stay and who should go.

David Raya – STAY: Initial doubts arose when he replaced Aaron Ramsdale, but he has since proven himself to be a world-class keeper with all the attributes needed for Arteta’s way of playing.

Aaron Ramsdale – GO: Unfortunate to be cast aside for Raya, but is now looking for a move to become a regular No.1 elsewhere, especially with his aspirations of one day starting in goal for England.

Karl Hein – STAY: Unlikely to take Ramsdale’s spot as No.2 should the Englishman depart – but the club cannot afford to lose two keepers in one window.

William Saliba – STAY: Saliba is of the best young defenders in the world right now, Arteta should be building his team around him. A vital part of the side’s spine that conceded just 29 Prem goals this term.

Ben White – STAY: Another solid member of Arteta’s impressive back four. Has the flexibility to play on the right or as a central defender, but has made right-back his own this term.

Gabriel – STAY: Was on the outskirts at the start of the campaign but forced his way back in and has forged an almighty partnership with Saliba in the middle of the defence. One of Arteta’s most important signings.

Jurrien Timber – STAY: Yet to see the best of the Dutchman after an injury-hit season, but Arteta views him as a game-changing full-back.

Jakub Kiwior – STAY: The Polish international has struggled to break up the duo of Saliba and Gabriel but has impressed when called upon, especially in a stint at left-back.

Cedric – GO: Leaving the club with his contract expiring. Never really convinced Arteta he could be relied upon and spent most of the season warming the bench.

Takehiro Tomiyasu – STAY: Another flexible and reliable figure that Arteta adores. Can play centre-back or right-back and is a real presence at set-pieces.

Oleksandr Zinchenko – GO: With Timber in line to be Arteta’s first choice at left-back, it is hard to see the Ukrainian starting many games for Arsenal next season. A good signing at £35m but has shown himself to be limited defensively.

Thomas Partey – GO: Injury prone and has looked leggy when finally back from his thigh issues that kept him out from October until March. Contract is up next summer.

Martin Odegaard – STAY: Captain fantastic. A real leader amongst men at such a young age. The 25-year-old is on course to lift the Prem at Arsenal sooner rather than later.

Emile Smith Rowe – STAY: Sidelined for most of the term and struggled to make an impact when called upon, but Arteta still sees something in him. A decent squad option but you get the feeling he is running out of time to prove to the club he is a player worth sticking with.

Jorginho – STAY: Arteta’s experienced general who, more often than not, has Arsenal playing better with him in the team.

Fabio Vieira – GO: Perhaps harsh to judge him based on just 16 appearances in all competitions this season but still looks out of place in English football. A loan move could help.

Mohamed Elneny – GO: Another player departing with his contract expiring. The right call by both parties. A good servant from the Arsene Wenger days.

Kai Havertz – STAY: Seems a bargain now at £65m from Chelsea following his barnstorming end to the season. Arteta bought him as a midfielder, yet now leads the line as a first-choice No.9.

Declan Rice – STAY: Arsenal’s most important and influential signing in years. Enough said.

Bukayo Saka – STAY: An undroppable superstar for club and country right now. Will undoubtedly get even better in seasons to come.

Gabriel Jesus – STAY: Fighting for a starting spot but right now but would be foolish to let him go given how much he can impact games and his winning mentality inside the group.

Gabriel Martinelli – STAY: A dip in form this term but Arteta has huge faith in him. The added competition with Leandro Trossard will only make him better.

Eddie Nketiah – GO: Career is at a crossroads right now and he needs to leave to turn that around. His six-figure wages could put Premier League suitors off.

Leandro Trossard – STAY: Can bring his qualities as a starter or from the bench – a brilliant option to have when you are going for a title.

Reiss Nelson – GO: Arteta has often spoken of Nelson’s potential and likes having him around the squad, but his impact has withered over the past 12 months.

Her masters thesis was on the parent experience in youth football where she interviewed 18 parents with children aged 15 to 21 and found four recurring problems.

These were: how best to deal with agents, academy education provision, sports law and contracts, and how a parent can support a child if and when they leave their club.

Having come up with the idea to help others in 2022, she recently kickstarted a platform called No1Fan.club that provides a support network and community for families on their football journey.

She said: “We can give those parents and guardians a glimpse of the academy journey if they take it, and provide them with a range of insights from experts in areas such as getting scouted, nutrition, growth injuries, sleep, the impact of digital devices on performance, the overall wellbeing of our children — and ourselves!

“It’s a holistic approach. I really believe that if parents are more informed and have more insight, it can only help other areas of the industry.

“It means we come with a sensible long-term view and a more realistic approach to our children’s football development.

“It positively influences how we engage with agents, how we engage with clubs, how we balance education, for example. Everybody benefits.

“Football is a business. And, like any business, you have to understand it to be successful.

Arsenal have a tricky start to the season

“If we don’t understand it, we’re going to make the wrong decisions.

“We are expected to stay in our lane and let everyone else manage the limited flow of information for us.”

Marcia says her son is helpful despite their busy schedules, but Lewis-Skelley reckons his mum now knows more than him about football and even has his grandmother keeping an eye on it.

Lewis-Skelley has his own education to worry about away from the pitch with Spanish and business A-Levels.

Marcia believes more could be done by clubs in their education schemes, while there are also issues with stereotypes around football parents and the way women are treated in the industry.

She added: “Everyone always talks about living your dreams through your kids — but it wasn’t mine or his dad’s dream to play football.

“You are always going to get parents who have an agenda, but I don’t believe that’s the majority. Most parents just want to support their child’s passion…

“If you Google ‘mum agent’, you always get negative stories.

“I think the way women are treated in the industry is wrong. We provide a huge amount of practical and emotional support to our boys and girls, but there’s no credit for the balance that we bring.

“As a parent, it can feel like you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. If you’re involved, you’re pushy parents. If you’re not, you aren’t taking an interest. It’s difficult to get that balance.”

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