Just back ( youth edition )

Quoted from Nantwichmariner

Ref Johnnie Oster's sending off for the Youth Team,I remember going to Villa Park in the mid 90s with a mate who's lad played for them that night. We lost and Im sure JO was sent off. He'd definitely played for the first team by then and it was one of the later rounds of the FA Youth Cup. Hope that helps trigger someone's memory.

Quoted from DaleH

My son is an under 16 at the academy, and has been there for two seasons. It has been a truly brilliant experience for him, in which he has developed well as a player, grown in confidence, and made a lot of super friends.

Sadly for him, we know that he won't have a scholarship with the youth team come next season, but even so we wouldn't have swapped the last two seasons for anything in the world. Every one of the 9x u16's not getting scholarships left the club immediately upon being notified on 28 October, to continue playing football elsewhere. And believe me, the decision making process must have been really difficult, as the under 16's were a fantastic group of players. My lad decided to stay until the end of the season though, as he wants to keep training and playing at the highest level that he can to assist him further in trying to make his football career elsewhere. And I cannot speak highly enough of how supportive Neil Woods and his staff have been in supporting him, in what is a difficult time for a young footballer. They have been terrific with him. On a personal note, we are very proud of our lad for showing the strength of character not to give up and keep pitching up three nights a week from Skegness and on matchdays. His hard work and Neil's support has already resulted in him getting an offer of a scholarship with a National League club, as well a strong possibility of a second opportunity with Chesterfield if they get promoted back to the EFL.  None of this would be possible without the support of Neil and the guys at the Grimsby Town Academy, and we will be forever grateful to them.

I hear lots of horror stories about kids released from academy's, and I have also read that book "No Hunger In Paradise" by Michael Calvin (and seen the documentary around it). All I can say is, that in the case of Grimsby Town Academy, this has not been our experience for my boy. He has been looked after brilliantly, with a high degree of compassion and care. I'd actually say that it has been managed in such a way that has quite possibly spurred him on even more to try and succeed.

It came as no surprise to me that the Youth Team turned Forest over last night, and I am absolutely buzzin for them all. Especially for the two boys from little old Skegness, Billy Bradley (capt) and Jack Collins. Billy and his family are good family friends of ours, and that lad is an absolute diamond of a boy. He is the most delightful kid you could ever wish to meet, who is mature beyond his years, caring, and with the most impeccable manners you could ever imagine. I am thrilled for both of them, but particularly for Billy.

Well done to all of the lads in the Youth Team. And well done to Neil Woods and Callum Lester, and everyone else in the academy who can also take credit for getting these lads to where they are.

Quoted from DaleH

My son is an under 16 at the academy, and has been there for two seasons. It has been a truly brilliant experience for him, in which he has developed well as a player, grown in confidence, and made a lot of super friends.

Sadly for him, we know that he won't have a scholarship with the youth team come next season, but even so we wouldn't have swapped the last two seasons for anything in the world. Every one of the 9x u16's not getting scholarships left the club immediately upon being notified on 28 October, to continue playing football elsewhere. And believe me, the decision making process must have been really difficult, as the under 16's were a fantastic group of players. My lad decided to stay until the end of the season though, as he wants to keep training and playing at the highest level that he can to assist him further in trying to make his football career elsewhere. And I cannot speak highly enough of how supportive Neil Woods and his staff have been in supporting him, in what is a difficult time for a young footballer. They have been terrific with him. On a personal note, we are very proud of our lad for showing the strength of character not to give up and keep pitching up three nights a week from Skegness and on matchdays. His hard work and Neil's support has already resulted in him getting an offer of a scholarship with a National League club, as well a strong possibility of a second opportunity with Chesterfield if they get promoted back to the EFL.  None of this would be possible without the support of Neil and the guys at the Grimsby Town Academy, and we will be forever grateful to them.

I hear lots of horror stories about kids released from academy's, and I have also read that book "No Hunger In Paradise" by Michael Calvin (and seen the documentary around it). All I can say is, that in the case of Grimsby Town Academy, this has not been our experience for my boy. He has been looked after brilliantly, with a high degree of compassion and care. I'd actually say that it has been managed in such a way that has quite possibly spurred him on even more to try and succeed.

It came as no surprise to me that the Youth Team turned Forest over last night, and I am absolutely buzzin for them all. Especially for the two boys from little old Skegness, Billy Bradley (capt) and Jack Collins. Billy and his family are good family friends of ours, and that lad is an absolute diamond of a boy. He is the most delightful kid you could ever wish to meet, who is mature beyond his years, caring, and with the most impeccable manners you could ever imagine. I am thrilled for both of them, but particularly for Billy.

Well done to all of the lads in the Youth Team. And well done to Neil Woods and Callum Lester, and everyone else in the academy who can also take credit for getting these lads to where they are.

Quoted from forza ivano

That's great to hear Dale, and echoes what I've heard previously.  It's just a shame there is , necessarily, such a high rate of attrition. I remember speaking to Ian Knight who said that every squad was cut by around half at the end of every season. And of course those that manage to battle their way through to last years group have v. Little chance of making a single F.L. appearance.

Good luck to your lad, his determination n dedication deserves a bit of success

Quoted from crusty ole pie

A gold star from me
All those lads last night were a credit to the club
They busted a gut and more for each other a joy to watch

Quoted from DaleH

My son is an under 16 at the academy, and has been there for two seasons. It has been a truly brilliant experience for him, in which he has developed well as a player, grown in confidence, and made a lot of super friends.

Sadly for him, we know that he won't have a scholarship with the youth team come next season, but even so we wouldn't have swapped the last two seasons for anything in the world. Every one of the 9x u16's not getting scholarships left the club immediately upon being notified on 28 October, to continue playing football elsewhere. And believe me, the decision making process must have been really difficult, as the under 16's were a fantastic group of players. My lad decided to stay until the end of the season though, as he wants to keep training and playing at the highest level that he can to assist him further in trying to make his football career elsewhere. And I cannot speak highly enough of how supportive Neil Woods and his staff have been in supporting him, in what is a difficult time for a young footballer. They have been terrific with him. On a personal note, we are very proud of our lad for showing the strength of character not to give up and keep pitching up three nights a week from Skegness and on matchdays. His hard work and Neil's support has already resulted in him getting an offer of a scholarship with a National League club, as well a strong possibility of a second opportunity with Chesterfield if they get promoted back to the EFL.  None of this would be possible without the support of Neil and the guys at the Grimsby Town Academy, and we will be forever grateful to them.

I hear lots of horror stories about kids released from academy's, and I have also read that book "No Hunger In Paradise" by Michael Calvin (and seen the documentary around it). All I can say is, that in the case of Grimsby Town Academy, this has not been our experience for my boy. He has been looked after brilliantly, with a high degree of compassion and care. I'd actually say that it has been managed in such a way that has quite possibly spurred him on even more to try and succeed.

It came as no surprise to me that the Youth Team turned Forest over last night, and I am absolutely buzzin for them all. Especially for the two boys from little old Skegness, Billy Bradley (capt) and Jack Collins. Billy and his family are good family friends of ours, and that lad is an absolute diamond of a boy. He is the most delightful kid you could ever wish to meet, who is mature beyond his years, caring, and with the most impeccable manners you could ever imagine. I am thrilled for both of them, but particularly for Billy.

Well done to all of the lads in the Youth Team. And well done to Neil Woods and Callum Lester, and everyone else in the academy who can also take credit for getting these lads to where they are.