Making it as a pro: training 3 nights a week from the age of sometimes 8 years old, up to 16, during that timem they will play on Sunday's throughout the county and nationally as they get older. If you are taken on then full time youth development training, sign pro at 17/19 depending on ability and begin professional training schedule.
Average pro career is about 5 years on average, which means most of those that sign a pro contract are no longer on a pro contract within 5 years. You have a potential 92 employers in this country, you have a constant resupply of talent trying to take your job.
Not saying they represent value, but the idea that that "they just kick a ball about for a living", is criminally narrow minded.
The people commenting on that will be the same "Soldiers and Nurses should get 90k a week, not these bloody footballer lot" brigade.