The Future

This is the new crop of Neil Woods youngsters - will any of them make it? https://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/2018/april/meet-the-new-scholars/. Who was the last player to come through the youth system? Why do we have these token youth signings every year, players that are obviously not good enough? Is it even worth having an academy?  

Posters on here talk about investment in the club but surely a Youth Policy is the best form of investment. If you don't have a Youth System then you have no opportunity to find local talent and benefit from it. Yes, you may go a few seasons  without unearthing a diamond but then you might. There have been many examples of local youths becoming part of the first team set-up and flourishing. You only have to look at our assistant manager to see one example and there are too many to itemize here.

“Who was the last player to come through the youth system?”

Clifton?

What has happened with Akheem Rose - the forgotten one ???

Seems like most of them aren’t local lads at all, few from the north east, London and even one from the USA. Shows the club are casting their net wider to bring in young players.

Quoted from acko338

What has happened with Akheem Rose - the forgotten one ???

There is supposed to be some sort of work permit tribunal some time in April - we've not heard anything at all from the club so assume its going to be some time in the next 10 days.

If we get approval would it be worth throwing him into one of the last 2 games, given the problem we have scoring goals up front would surely be worth a gamble.

Imagine him getting the all clear before Fgr game and scoring a winner off the bench to keep us up  

I know this may not be popular amongst local lads, but I would question whether clubs at gtfc level should run youth teams. If the council turn down planning application for PP, there is no case for the youth setup to continue.

Having said that my pals and I will be entering a team for the development golf day in July, so we are doing something to help fund the youth.

Hope to see Max Wright tomorrow and have to reassess thoughts.

Quoted from IlkleyMariner

I know this may not be popular amongst local lads, but I would question whether clubs at gtfc level should run youth teams. If the council turn down planning application for PP, there is no case for the youth setup to continue.

Having said that my pals and I will be entering a team for the development golf day in July, so we are doing something to help fund the youth.

Hope to see Max Wright tomorrow and have to reassess thoughts.

We have this argument from time to time and my opinion is always no we shouldn't bother with a youth team or younger teams.

Just let them enjoy their football in local leagues and invite some for trial games when they are 16/17/18, either from here or further afield.

For me there are far too many variables involved in young players. Some are fantastic at 10, rubbish at 14. Some are rubbish at 10, and pretty good at 14. They can go from being big and strong and scoring 100 goals a season in a certain age group yet can't score any when other kids catch them up in physical size.Very very few are good enough when it matters - between 18 and 24 and beyond. Any truly exceptional talent (or exceptional for that age group) will be lured by bigger clubs anyway, so we are often left with whats the best of the rest.

Then we have the problem of different youth coaches looking for different things, in accordance with the first team managers wishes; a Buckley will want all ball players, certain other managers might want pace and physique and wouldn't be too bothered whether he can trap a bag of cement. A change of manager and everything goes out of the window.

Some players go all the way through to first year pros yet the vast  majority of even those are rejected. Is it really worth it?

It is just a personal opinion but I think a series of trial games would probably yield better results. It doesn't matter how good a young player is in their formative years - all that matters from a professional clubs point of view is that he is good enough when it matters when he can break into the first team.

Quoted from lukeo

Imagine him getting the all clear before Fgr game and scoring a winner off the bench to keep us up  

That would be great Luke, though it looks like you got a couple of crosses for that suggestion so I guess some people wouldn't like it if he scored the winner off the bench at FGR to keep us up, lol.

Maybe you are too positive - the mind boggles