The college based result against Ebbsfleet in the League Cup (they drew 3-3 in the League) was indeed a good one but the result against Grays needs to be put in context - they are one of the whipping boys in their division. Bigger senior club doesn't automatically mean better college side. Welling are 4th in their League and could go top if they won their game in hand but have yet to meet strong teams like AFC Wimbledon who I have seen, Fisher, and Bromley and only then can we get a true measure of them.
Neil probably has a pretty good idea of the standard of the FYCL with Woking's success last year and their currently having teams at the top of the Central SE and the Southern Divisions (which also highlights that more senior clubs have a plethora of youth sides.)
The KYL U18's are clear at the top of their League at the moment and they are scoring goals too.
In short my view is that these are lads in development and there may well be a few gems but that development should not be rushed simply because a manager seems to be incapable of signing players for the first team whatever the reason for that is. I said as much last year when Ade was forced to get Gabriel and Rishi to sign last year. Realistically where they are at now in terms of development has to be behind the great number of ex pro club academy players released each year simply because of the focus they have had on all aspects of the game and the playing experience they have gained.
On another tack, one of the things we don't know is who these lads are. They may well be those who have played reserve matche(s) and/or who were in the side which played Margate the other night in the KSC which would have been a good measure of just how far their development has reached. Murray Jones at Bromley I know encourages support for their side on the official site but other than links to an external site (which anyone interested in youth football would already visit) Welling have b****r all on their website. Is it any wonder that anonymous wonders why the lads don't get more praise! I may get slaughtered and told there is information in a programme but if so my response is that surely the very success of these sides is worthy of a much wider circulation and would make excellent local PR which in itself could have an impact on the commercial side of things.
-- Edited by bruno at 10:36, 2007-12-15
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YOUTH are the future
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"The worst thing you can do is make a committment and not meet it and I understand that." Barrie Hobbins 14 August 2010
There is indeed a youth page in every home game programme. I also agree with your comments regarding getting carried away. Both youth teams (college and Kent) have made good starts...
The reserve side is usually made up of players around the first team, Kent Youth side and college based side collectively.
My comments about them receiving credit wasnt a dig at anyone, just an observation that its nice to see them getting some credit when they do well.
Personally, I think the time to get excited is when these youth players do make the first team.
