I wish I shared your optimism scooby.

From my perspective:

The Ryman youth side finished bottom of the league with a -23 goal difference. Many of the teams finishing above them don't have college based schemes.

The FCY side will finish 10th out of 12 with a -17 goal difference. Dartford have 2 teams in the division and are likely to finish 1st and 4th.

The reality is that Welling Academy sides have failed to reach even a mid table finish in a youth league. The step up to adult football from youth football is a massive one and should Welling reserves be promoted to the Suburban Premier they will be facing much stronger opposition than this year.

Team performances of course cannot take account of individuals and if the academy coaches have arranged for 3 players to train with the first team and reserves they feel that Jamie should have a look at them. Obviously I wish all 3 the best and it would be nice to see some end product from the Academy but training with the Welling teams is no guarantee of getting a place in one of the squads.

BBB,
I want the academy system to succeed and produce players for Welling United as much as anyone but I do have fundamental doubts about the present day college recruitment which in my view is more of a political issue revolving around keeping 16+ year olds in education and the funding of colleges rather than the development of young footballers, hence what I consider to be an excessive number of boys on the schemes and so many broken dreams. College based schemes however can, and have produced players for other clubs but it hasn't happened for us.

We have 3 years experience of college based sides in the FYCL.
2007/8 Finished 2nd/11 beating sides from, Wycombe, Woking, Bromley Fisher and Dartford.
2008/9 Finished 5th and 11th/11 Beaten by Dartford, Fisher, Bromley x2
2009/10 Finished 10/12 Beaten by Dartford x2, Dulwich Hamlet, Deal, Dover

It was our 1st year in the RYL and we finished 7th/7 beaten by Maidstone, Cray Wanderers, Bromley, Tilbury, Tonbridge Angels, Thamesmead.

We are the most senior club in the area ffs and should in theory have the pick of boys not wanting to progress onto A level studies and University..

Official quotes 1 June 2009
"The standard of boys was very high and we have so far been able to offer twenty-two boys places on the Academy/College programme."
"We are also holding further trials on the 4th & 11th of July."
If the standard was so high and Keith and Rob Quinn are two good and very knowledgeable coaches/managers what went wrong?
I might suggest that:
1. that perhaps our benchmark as to the boys abilities was too low;
2. 22 + presumably another 28 or so "boys of a high standard" who have an implied right to match appearances to man 2 teams means there can be no consistency.
3. College based schemes revolve around keeping youngsters in school beyond 16 and colleges want the money so we have too many boys on the scheme.

Official quote 22 April 2010
"The first set of trials was a success with over 30 boys selected onto the programme."

How many more will come from the second trials?

I just hope we there isn't a repeat of this year.





-- Edited by bruno on Tuesday 27th of April 2010 04:45:54 PM

Information about the Reserve and Academy sides is as rare as rocking horse ****.

All I can say is that looking at the playing histories of the 1st team squad over the last 3 years I don't think any Academy/ex Academy player has appeared for the first team. I stand to be corrected if anyone knows any different.

I agree its about development fbman (and would add that this carries beyond youth) BUT Academy sides are a step above community/district youth football from whom those enrolled are likely to have come.

An Academy is by its nature selective and it is a potential first step towards the competitive and sometimes harsh world of Saturday football and whilst not wholly results driven it is going to be more so than Community/District youth football.

The aim of any Club's Academy surely has to be to provide some 'home grown' players hence the selection process and the enrolment of boys who have already reached a high standard and have the desire and commitment to develop their potential with the coaching and education on sports related matters being offered to allow them to do so. Reality says that in normal circumstances at best 1 or maybe 2 make it to the first team squad, hopefully some will make the reserve side, continue to develop and be given the opportunity to get into the 1st team squad, and the vast majority will end up playing at a lower level than the parent Club be that non league or Sunday football - harsh perhaps but Saturday football into which they hope to progress is a results driven competitive sport with limited opportunities.

Welling may be better to link up with a school such as Hurstmere which produces many good players.

Cray Wanderers Academy have produced Four players who have played for the first team this season (more likely than at Welling, as further down the Pyramid)
One of who, has played most of the season - and is being courted by a few lower league pro clubs

-- Edited by BOOM BOOM BALLY on Tuesday 27th of April 2010 11:04:46 PM

-- Edited by BOOM BOOM BALLY on Wednesday 28th of April 2010 06:37:49 AM