JGFC, can't be of much assistance - information on reserves is a bit like hens teeth.  Last I heard was that reserves were withdrawing from Kent League (which they did), that we were to have a proper reserve side, and we would have an under 18 side (advert for players was in local press.)  Its all gone quiet on the subject of a reserve side and they would have had to apply for whatever league they wanted to play in by now.  I believe Capital League member clubs were agreed by mid June, and I would imagine that the Suburban League member clubs have also been agreed by now but there is nothing on their website.

The teams in the Capital League South West  Division (courtesy of Salisbury City website)  are Berkhamsted Town, Chesham United, Dulwich Hamlet, Farnborough Town, Harrow Borough, Hendon, Salisbury City, Slough Town, Windsor & Eton and Yeading. 

I haven’t been able to find out much about the sides are in the North East Division.  The only sides that I know are in this division according to their websites are Dagenham and Redbridge and Hitchin Town, though I imagine Bishops Stortford, Gravesend, St Albans, and Thurrock will continue – not sure about Redbridge and Waltham Forest.

All in all I suspect that we will not be running a reserve side or someone would have heard about it by now.  We must be the one of, if not the only, Nationwide South side without a reserve side and it shows.  It's a great shame but if the cost was to have eaten into the money available for the first team squad I would have opted to put the setting up of a proper reserve side on the back burner.  If this years team play to their potential and we gain some success hopefully the crowds will improve thereby generating more income which could go towards the funding of a reserve side next season.  A question for the meet the management meeting next week perhaps but not from me I'm afraid as I'll be in Peterborough.

As far as a PASE side goes I think Ade would be overcommiting himself  if he were to oversee such a side; he and Barney have more than enough on their plate building a successful first team.

I think last years 'reserve' side was a gamble which we lost since none of the players managed to shine at that level of football.  There were a couple of players whose opinion of themselves far exceeded their ability - don't know if they've talked their way into being included in the 10 trialists.

As far as last years U15's go I really have no idea, my days of involvement in junior football have long since gone.

If we are looking to the under 18's forming a Welling side in 2006/7 it would have to be a PASE side; we followed the reserve side route last season and look where it got us.

I would still prefer to see a proper reserve side but if it is to be a PASE side surely we would seek to recruit youth players not offered pro terms by League sides which is what we did with the highly successful YTS(?) side which included Barnes and Finnan.

hi again, just to let every1 know that the u18 training was excellent, a major turn out. there was 25 people there and 3 to come. the people who were there were really good as well. hopefully we will win the league this season,

dave

JGFC

Twenty Questions?

Only having a bit of friendly banter JGFC.  I knew where you were coming from.

I feel reasonably sure that we won't have a reserve side next season cos someone somewhere would have heard about it by now.

Personally I don't see that we will attract many former pro club youths for an under 18's Kent Youth League side.  Had we been setting up a PASE side I think that may have been a more attractive proposition to those who didn't make it with a pro club.  Our successful foray into recruiting ex pro club schoolboys/youth was when we had the YTS scheme, or whatever it was, where the deal was continuing their education and getting quality training to develop their football skills, thereby potentially giving them another bite at the pro game.  Whatever else anyone may say about Kevin Hales it cannot be denied that he did an excellent job on their development as footballers.

I would hope that last years experience has taught us that we have to be crystal clear whether we have a youth team or a reserve team.  The essential difference being that a reserve side should play at a standard where it is appropriate to include first team players needing to regain match fitness and where the side develops potential first team players to the point of them making the squad.

Last season I was spectacularly unsuccessful in my attempt to get some support, other than family or friends, by posting info about them on the forum.  In all honesty I can't see there being much support for a Kent Youth League Team.  I would be very happy to be proven wrong but my gut reaction, which is based on my experience of under 18 sides, is that the support will comprise a small number of family members and girlfriends.

I suspect that the posting you are talking about was aimed at me.  If they expect me to jump up and wave my knickers in the air they're out of luck.  I stand by all of the postings I made last year and the one earlier this season which seemed to upset some of them.  The truth hurts?