Is it a bit obvious to say that if it was clear what the purpose of the the Youth set up was the rest would logically drop out the bottom?

If it is to produce players for the first team then I would suggest that once said players reach about 15 they probably should not be coached by those with a potential conflict of interest (certainly not from our division).

If it is 'social football' then it doesn't really matter but do not expect a great throughput of people into our first team (Kedwell was not one of ours in that respect).

Do we really know or do we just have some vague idea that this is all very worthy and hope something will turn up?

Offering football to all abilities is admirable

Very true as I have said.

It may be your view that older teams should come under the control of WUFC, but at the moment, this is not going to happen.

The fact is that Welling United's involvement in youth football is via Welling United Youth which is a joint project between Welling United and a former JFC Club.Welling United, however, seem to have at best little input into the Club.As far as I have observed the relationship with the players running out onto the pitch in WUY kits is pretty much that what it was before the establishment of WUY, it is just that instead of having contact with a number of individuals running sides under the Welling United name there is now one body.That accords with the late Graham Hobbins comment to me in April 2006 which was that was thatthe Club did not want responsibility for youth sides and that is probably the crux of the matter.

"We had an U16s last season which was producing 12+ county players. 3 teams compete at Kent Youth League level. We have a community section that rivals Charlton, and increases revenue into the main club."

Is Welling United Youth part of the Community Scheme? It seems a bit fuzzy to me but that in itself perhaps highlights some of the problem.The central point ,however, is that WUY is a Club with players in the Selkent, Bexley and Kent Youth Leagues.At the older age groups it has teams in both the Bexley League and the Kent Youth League which recognises that by this time it is possible to distinguish between the potential to play senior football at a reasonable level and above, and those who will continue to play and enjoy football for as long as they are able beyond the age of 18.One of the Clubs stated aims to produce players for Welling United and realistically this is the only way which it could ever hope to do so.My take on the matter is that when this divide comes it forms the natural point for the senior club to take over the development of the players potential.

"I believe, 5 or 6 youth players have played for the first team"

Last season we had 11 youth players who represented the Welling United in the County Cup matches. Under the pre WUY situation there would have been 9. Two of the U18 players made Conference South appearances. That is not to detract from players who are moving to U18 this season since age, experience, and Ade's knowledge of the players will all have been factors.

Our fan base can only increase

Only time will tell but it made no significant impact on last seasons attendances which adjusted to take account of the Home matches we had to play at Dartford and Ebbsfleet was marginally below the previous season.

If GL/JD read this and decide enough is enough, we would be losing highly qualified coaches, who are unpaid at Welling. They have already spotted and nutured some great players.

My view, which I accept may well be the minority view, is that whilst recognising that this would be a loss to WUY and the Community Scheme the conflict of interest means that they should not continue.Conflict of interest is an issue in all walks of life and is an accepted principle within employment practices.It casts no aspersions on those it applies to but recognises that there is a potential for it to cause problems.Welling United and Fisher may have considered this and decided it is not an issue, that however, does not mean that alternative views should not be voiced.

stafford wrote:

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1)   Re Kedwell. I did not introduce him into the argument. It is somewhat contrary to say it is irrelevant once it has been pointed out that it is not a good example for your case.

2)  Please indicate at which point I was not behind the team (modern equivalent of branding the enquirer a heretic. When will you be erecting the stake and the brushwood?).

3)  If, as you say, we NEED people to come through the ranks, then surely you are advocating the same approach as JgFc and that the set up should be driven by that. If you actually meant that you would LIKE to see players come through the ranks then that may happen through other approaches.

I am aware that nothing in life comes for free, either in money and\or effort and the regime in place may be the best value for money that we can get with some prospect of a return.

With regards to youth being the future, I would disagree. Good youth are the future, more so if the club were to be contributing resources which could otherwise be spent on players of the standard our league (which I glean from the above they are not). In the final analysis it is down to ability and temperament, I've not yet seen a birth certificate send a screamer in the top corner from 30 yards. 

 

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