I was jailed for robbery aged 15 before becoming a drug dealer and rapper – but now I'm an academy scout for Arsenal

The Sun

4 hours ago

JOSEPH BOL has gone from dealing drugs, getting stabbed by rival gangs and spending three separate stints in prison, to helping Arsenal uncover new talent as an academy scout.
Bol, 39, has turned his life around, putting crime in his rear-view mirror and excelling as a football scout.
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Bol works as Arsenal 's grassroots academy coordinator for East London, helping the Gunners identify the best talent across U9s to U14s level.
It's far cry from what he was doing at a similar age to the youngsters, with Bol being sent to prison for three years at just 15 years old for robbery.
He also found himself wrapped up in dealing Class A drugs and ultimately being convicted for that too.
Speaking to The Times, he recalled: "I wanted things my mum didn't deem necessary, like designer clothes, trainers, and that led me down a slippery slope.
"I stopped playing football and I started selling and smoking weed, and then it went on to be more Class A drugs. I was just in a bubble thinking this is going to be my career path."
After being let out of prison for the first time, Bol turned his attention to rap music - amassing millions of YouTube views for his songs about crime.
He added: "I came out and got adulation from my peers, it boosts your ego, and I just started rapping about what I was going through.
"It was more about selling drugs. We didn't really have postcode wars at the time.'
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Bol, who recalled taking Maths and English GCSEs in a young offenders' institute, was still wrapped up in the world of crime for some time.
And was even stabbed in the arm and leg while sitting in the front seat of his car by four members of rival gang at one point.
But after turning 21 and finisng himself in an adult prison, Bol's life changed thanks an officer who encouraged him to complete FA Level One and Community Sports Leader coaching courses.
He recalled that decision helped him "break the cycle" and he started to volunteer at a local football club when he was released from prison.
In 2012 he set up his own grassroots team, AC United, which snowballed into an eight-team club with performances catching the attention of top scouts.
Bol continued rapping about his old life at the same time, earning a reputation under his stage name "Joe Black", and even performed as a support act for hip-hop superstar Rick Ross.
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Unexpectedly, it was his rap career that helped Bol land his first proper job in football.
A standout player at AC United, Clinton Mola, was invited for a trial at Chelsea - with Bol accompanying him to the training ground.
Upon his arrival at Cobham, Bol was mobbed by a group of U14 players - including a young Reece James - who recognised him from his music videos.
Recognising the sway and impact that Bol had in the local community, Chelsea decided to hire him as a member of their coaching staff.
They also signed Mola, who now plays for Bristol Rovers in League One and represented England from U16 to U21 levels.
Bol recalled being concerned that Chelsea would turn him away after a DBS check of his criminal history.
He said to The Times: "Rightfully so, because there were obviously reservations after what showed up [on the DBS check].
'I did a risk assessment and they asked me how I ended up in these situations and what I'd done to change my behaviour to ensure I wouldn't fall back into those old patterns.
"Long story short, I think the years I put in coaching unpaid went a long way to overpower the past.
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"They could see I was making a big effort to make a change. I got the role and I was there for just over five years.'
From there Bol's career in football scouting has taken over and he made the switch to Arsenal's academy in 2020 - where he has been ever since.
Working alongside academy manager Per Mertesacker, Bol's role is to manage a group of scouts and make sure they are always covering all parts of East London.
Along his way he has helped unearth and develop some of of the Premier League's most exciting young talents.
Zain Silcott-Duberry, who made his Prem debut for Bournemouth this season, is just one of the youngsters he has had a hand in developing.
While 14-year-old Trey Faromo, another Bol has helped identify, is thought to be one of the country's brightest talents and recently made his debut for Chelsea Under-18.
Now Bol is targeting a spot as the head of recruitment at a Premier League club, but still recognises how far he has come.
He said: "I feel proud of where I'm going. It's good to reflect every once in a while to remember how far I've come"
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