Recruitment

I didn't say or infer it has been closed. It hasn't.  What I was saying is that to get that many players from the youth team at the same time is the exception.
Incidentally did you see that Liverpool v Tolouse, they had over half a dozen players that had come through their youth team? Liverpool seem to buck the trend when it comes to giving youth players a chance.

Ben Grist is the perfect example of what happens if you have a decent player coming through the system. One of the Premiership or Championship clubs come and take them away for a pittance and it really makes you wonder whether the costs of running all these teams at junior and youth levels is actually worth it? Let’s face it in the last ten years we have probably had just had Harry and Max come through the system
. Max had the talent but not the physique for professional football and Harry is Mr 100% effort but not enough natural ability.

It’s a very tough task to get someone from the under 9’s to the first team and IMO pretty much impossible.

Quoted from mimma

I didn't say or infer it has been closed. It hasn't.  What I was saying is that to get that many players from the youth team at the same time is the exception.
Incidentally did you see that Liverpool v Tolouse, they had over half a dozen players that had come through their youth team? Liverpool seem to buck the trend when it comes to giving youth players a chance.

Yes - Liverpool do do this - probably because the City is a very enthusiastic and capable football city - bottom line

Quoted from Lincoln Mariner 56

Ben Grist is the perfect example of what happens if you have a decent player coming through the system. One of the Premiership or Championship clubs come and take them away for a pittance and it really makes you wonder whether the costs of running all these teams at junior and youth levels is actually worth it? Let’s face it in the last ten years we have probably had just had Harry and Max come through the system
. Max had the talent but not the physique for professional football and Harry is Mr 100% effort but not enough natural ability.

It’s a very tough task to get someone from the under 9’s to the first team and IMO pretty much impossible.

Might be better if there are no under 9 teams etc attracting attention and let the secondary schools nurture these lads / girls under the radar, with a good relationship between the schools and Town via the games teachers, as it used to be

Quoted from Teestogreen

Might be better if there are no under 9 teams etc attracting attention and let the secondary schools nurture these lads / girls under the radar, with a good relationship between the schools and Town via the games teachers, as it used to be

No argument from me. Kids get associated with clubs from such a young age and many are then prevented from playing with their mates whilst parents travel up and down the country just with that vague but unrealistic hope that their child will make it and not be one of the 99% who don’t make it.

All rather sad really and I personally don’t think kids should be linked to clubs until they are at least 15 but the clock isn’t going to start turning backwards so we are stuck with the current system I’m afraid.

If the club can get its bottom back up the pyramid then the club becomes the magnet for the talent in the wider area of Lincolnshire.....years in non League and the bottom end of League Two doesn't make you attractive to anyone who isn't a Town fan..or child of Town fan.
We have had Lincoln, Scunny and Hull all Leagues above us at some point in the last ..20yrs ?? ....currently only Scunny below us...so we are the 3rd attractive out of 4 currently...and that's just in the immediate area...any highly talented player could be hoovered up by a club even further afield.

Quoted from Teestogreen

So it begs the question - where have all of the players in the EFL come from ( most of Premier from overseas) - if youth systems - such as Man U - have been scrapped - as you infer?

Don't want to be rude, what planet are you from?

The guy was pointing out Man Utd had a once in a generation under Fergie when a group of players came through at the same time.

Quoted from Lincoln Mariner 56

Ben Grist is the perfect example of what happens if you have a decent player coming through the system. One of the Premiership or Championship clubs come and take them away for a pittance and it really makes you wonder whether the costs of running all these teams at junior and youth levels is actually worth it? Let’s face it in the last ten years we have probably had just had Harry and Max come through the system
. Max had the talent but not the physique for professional football and Harry is Mr 100% effort but not enough natural ability.

It’s a very tough task to get someone from the under 9’s to the first team and IMO pretty much impossible.

Yeah it's possible to have  a good long career at a high level with the right attitude.

Would Mark Lever have played so many Championship level games for any other Championship club?
He did the job he was told to do, and he did it well with a great attitude.

I have been to many youth team games over the last 15-20 years and the current team is probably the best I’ve seen. We could lose a few of them to bigger clubs if we don’t lock them down soon!