Newcastle United's decision to build their academy around young, hungry players is deliberate. In the past 12 months the club has targeted 14-17-year-olds from across the UK, with Eli Hall and Kyran Thompson among the latest arrivals from Ipswich Town and Arsenal respectively.
For the players themselves, the move can be daunting. Many leave family and friends behind, travelling hundreds or thousands of miles to a new city, while balancing schoolwork and learning to become independent.
That is where host families such as Kate and Aidan come in. Now in their fourth year with Newcastle United, they are hosting their second group of academy players, having previously looked after Sam Alabi, who arrived from Oldham.
A responsibility embraced
"There is a huge sense of responsibility," says Kate, a teacher. "You're looking after somebody else's child and as parents we know how precious we think our children are, and therefore we would want somebody to, if they were caring for them away from us, to have the same sorts of levels of care that we would find important."
Kate and Aidan aim to provide a stable, welcoming home where teenagers can grow up, learn life skills and focus on their football. They say the responsibility has been embraced, and within days it feels as though the young players have been with them much longer. Daily conversations about rooms, washing and stealing biscuits are all part of the experience.
Managing the ups and downs
Aidan, who also works in education, says the role is about drawing on experience. "It's about bringing in your experience from being a school teacher. You're dealing with people with different emotions at different times. We did have one of the boys in the previous cohort who had a very long injury, so it's just about making sure that you're there to support them and making sure they're keeping in contact with the club, the physios and their own family."
Kate stresses the need to step away from football. "We all love football in the family but sometimes you need to step away from the football with them." She adds that when players are injured, it is about focusing on other things such as meeting friends, playing golf or going to the beach.
There are moments of excitement too. Aidan recalls one of the players receiving an England youth call-up. "Plenty of whooping and hollering and when they're sharing that information and their joy of it, and you're part of it, it's great to be able to share that."
From kitchen door to Champions League
Sam Alabi exemplifies the journey. He arrived from Oldham as a 14-year-old in 2023, later signed his first professional deal, played for England at youth level and was named in Newcastle's Champions League squad for the match against Marseille.
"When they arrive, we might measure their heights on the kitchen door - and by the time Sam left, he could barely fit through the door," remembers Aidan.
Kate tells the story of her mother spotting Sam in Marseille. "I remember getting a text from my mum and she was was in Marseille for the Champions League and the team had come out. Sam was in the squad! She was on a walking tour in Marseille, and she'd seen him on the balcony and waved up at him, he waved back and it was a real nice moment. I was texting Sam's parents saying how proud we were and that felt like a real pinnacle - within four or five months of leaving us as a 15-year-old who had just battled his way through his GCSEs and an injury, to see that was a proper proud host family moment."
Academy investment and the future
Under sporting director Ross Wilson, Newcastle have also added younger senior signings such as 18-year-old Sean Steur. The hope is that the academy can produce first-team players or generate funds through sales, following the model of rival clubs.
"We regularly talk as a group about the current rules for spending, and how important it is to have young players coming through," says Kate. "It's great to see the Geordie players come through but the fact the club is looking further a field is really important and generating that talent to get through to the U18s and U21s as soon as possible and being involved in the first team squad."
"That will be key to Newcastle maintaining some sort of success in the future unless there was some massive change in transfer rules."
For Kate and Aidan, hosting is not a one-way relationship. They describe it as adding to each other as much as they add to the players. "Being part of the club story makes us very proud - we're very lucky that we get that opportunity."
Those interested in becoming a host family for Newcastle United can find out more on the club's official website, and the full interview with Kate and Aidan is available to watch on YouTube.
