Youth Profile - Owen Price

Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs) Football Club is located in North London. The club is also known as Spurs. Tottenham's home ground is White Hart Lane. The club motto is Audere est Facere (To dare is to do).

As our first year Academy youngsters come to the end of their initial full season with the club, Owen Price believes it's been quite a good campaign for their team.

The Under-17s finished their league season strongly with some fine victories after an indifferent start, but two defeats in their play-off group ended any hopes of further progression.

However, while naturally disappointed at their exit in the play-offs, Owen feels the team have grown up together over the last few months.

"It's not been a bad season really, although I suppose we could have done a bit better," says the 16-year-old right winger.

"We started off quite slowly as we were all settling in, but there was certainly progression towards the end, our performances were a lot better. We were very disappointed to lose the two play-off matches though. We were winning against Blackburn and Southampton so to not hold onto those leads was frustrating for all of us."

Owen was born in South London and played for the South London and London Schools teams as a young lad. He joined us when he was an Under-14 and turned full-time last summer.

"It's been a tough year but I think I've improved, although I know there is always room for more improvement. Next season I hope to keep progressing, do well for the Under-19s and get more regular action for the reserves.

"I've already had a couple of run-outs as a substitute this season for them, but hopefully there will be more next year."

Owen's claim to fame is a place in the Guinness Book of Records for scoring the fastest ever recorded goal.

That achievement came as 14-year-old while playing for his school, Ernest Bevin College in Tooting, against Barking Abbey in the Heinz Ketchup Cup Final at Highbury.

Owen takes up the story: "When we were in the changing rooms before the game, I told my mate to roll the ball back and I would have a crack. But when we kicked off he just left the ball on the centre spot, so I just ran forward and shot.

"It went over the goalkeeper and was timed at 4.3 seconds but unfortunately we lost the match 3-1! They had a few boys from West Ham and Leyton Orient, so it was a tough game but a nice record to have."

Coach's comments
Owen's got a lot of ability, he runs with the ball very well and he's got a lot of pace which, as a winger or a striker, is a good asset to have. But he's got to work a lot harder at his game if he wants to keep improving. He played for England schoolboys last year and for him to reach that level again, he must keep working hard in training and look for improvement all the time.

Jimmy Neighbour
Under-17s Manager