Youth Team - Season Preview
Pre Season is now well under way with the Youth Team returning on June 30th to a series of fitness testing to compare against how they performed in similar tests at the end of last season. From the results and their heart rate monitor readings, it was clear that the lads had followed the off season fitness programmes that they had been given to work on.
The squad is bigger this season as can be seen from the individual profiles below, with nine new first year scholars joining the seven lads remaining from last season and keeper, Michael Emery. To prove the strength of our schoolboy system - seven of the nine new players have come from within our own system - a few of the names will be familiar to followers of the Youth Team last season as five of them played a part in the FA Youth Cup run to the 3rd Round of that competition and in the victorious County Cup Squad.
After almost three weeks of training, the squad played three friendlies in quick succession with the aim of these to get everyone playing time on the pitch so that we can gauge fitness levels at any early stage and we have been very pleased with the lads in this regard.
The first game saw a 2 - 2 draw at Cambridge United with Rushden twice coming from behind to finish the game strongly. Firstly, John Wigglesworth found space in the box to meet Dan Easlea's cross with a powerful header then a neat move involving Matt Evans and Nabil Shariff set up Lewis Hilliard who rounded the oncoming keeper to score.
Next was a game at Kimbolton School against a touring Grimsby Town side with Rushden putting in an excellent display to win 3 - 1 with all three goals coming in the second of three 30 minute periods. The opener came when Chris Kirby met Lewis Hallford's cross to volley home from 15 yards out and then good work between Hallford and Evans led to a precise cross from the latter which James Freshwater put away from 10 yards. Shariff added the third, tucking the ball past the opposition keeper after breaking clear of the defence.
The third game saw the squad travel to play the MK Dons, going down 2 - 1 in a game where we had plenty of chances to build on the lead given to us by Shariff midway through the first half but these weren't taken and The Dons (watched by new Manager, Roberto Di Matteo) equalised just before half time and then went ahead with 18 minutes to go. Rushden again finished strongly and were unlucky not to pull level through Jack Higgins who headed just over the bar and Shariff whose last minute strike was pushed onto the post by the Dons Keeper.
So, an encouraging start for the lads as we work towards the opening match of the new league season away at Wycombe on August 16th.
Below is a brief introduction to the Youth Team for next season.
Second Year Scholars
Joe Day - Goal Keeper and Captain. Joe is from Brighton and joined us as an Under 17 player in January 2007 from Crystal Palace. Now an Under 19, Joe is in the second year of his scholarship and therefore eligible to play for the Youth Team in the Puma Junior Alliance League and Cup - but not the FA Youth Cup. His impressive development was rewarded with an appearance for the First Team in their recent pre season game at Halstead.
Michael Emery - Goal Keeper. Michael is from Lincolnshire and is signed on non contract terms with us. He will provide cover for Joe, representing us in the Under 18 cups which the squad will enter during the season.
Sean Calcutt - Central Defender. Sean is from Northampton and joined our Centre of Excellence at the start of his Under 16 season.Sean secured a scholarship early that season thanks to a number ofimpressive performances for the Youth Team. He has also played in a number of reserve games and was part of the senior squad which won the Hillier Senior Cup last season.
Alex Phillips - Midfielder. Alex is from Kettering and has switched to central midfield since joining the Youth Team after a number of seasons with our Development and Centre of Excellence squads as a central or right sided defender
Jack Higgins - Central Defender. Jack is from Burnley and joined us in July 2007 from Boston United, having previously been with Crewe Alexandra as an Under 16 player.Jack has played in reserve fixtures and will be the 2nd year captain in the absence of Joe Day.
John Wigglesworth - Striker. John is from Milton Keynes and played for the successful City Colts Team before joining us in May 2007 from Luton Town's Development Structure after impressing in a trial where he showed his goal scoring ability.
James Freshwater - Midfielder. James is from St Neots and has been involved within the youth system at the club since he was 12 - moving up through the Performance and Elite Centres through to the Centre of Excellence before securing a scholarship after a number of impressive performances in the Youth Team while still in the Under 16s.
Lewis Hilliard - Midfielder/Striker. Lewis is from March in Cambridgeshire and joined us as an Under 15 player. Lewis is able to play in central or wide midfield as well as a striker and this versatility earned him a place in Reserve matches last season and in the Hillier Cup Squad.
First Year Scholars
George Cox - Right Back/Central midfielder. George is from Bedford and joined our Centre of Excellence at the start of his Under 14 season. George played a number of games for the Youth Team last season with his most notable performance coming in the FA Youth Cup match against Colchester.
Lewis Hallford - Right Midfielder. Lewis is from Milton Keynes and joined our Centre of Excellence at the start of his Under 14 season after a year in the Elite Centre. A regular in the Youth Team last season, Lewis has also represented Scotland at Under 16 level.
Aynsley McDonald - Left Back and First Year Captain. Aynsley is from Earls Barton and joined our Centre of Excellence midway through his Under 13 season after being a member of the Elite Squad. Another regular for the Youth Team last season, Aynsley represented Wales at Under 16 level.
Connor Hayes - Central Defender/Midfielder. Connor is from Middlesex and was scouted for our Centre of Excellence in November 2007 and gained his scholarship after good performances at Centre Back for the Youth Team during February last season.Connor has shown an ability in Central Midfield during pre season and could well also feature there in the future.
Chris Kirby - Left Back/Left Midfield. Chris is from Cheshunt in Herts and was previously with Colchester United. Chris is equally comfortable in defence or midfield and was spotted at the Centre of Excellence Exit Trials in March 2008 and joined us after a successful trial in April.
Matt Evans - Right Back/Midfield. Matt is from Sandy in Bedfordshire and has been with the Centre of Excellence since he was an Under 13. Matt can also play either in defence or midfield and has made a bright start to his Youth Team career with strong performances in all three of the recent friendlies.
Adam Sharpe - Central Midfielder/Striker. Adam is from Wellingborough and gained his place in our Centre of Excellence during his Under 13 season after good performances for the Elite Squad. Originally a striker, Adam has recently played most of his games as an attacking midfielder - he also made his Youth Team debut while still only 14.
Dan Easlea - Left Midfielder. Dan is from Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk and joined us in April 2008 following a successful trial which included appearances for the Northants Senior Cup winning team. Dan was originally with Ipswich Town's Academy set up for a number of seasons.
Nabil Sharif - Striker. Nabil is from Milton Keynes and joined our Centre of Excellence following a trial in October 2005. Nabil is a strong, physical striker who made his Youth Team debut as a 14 year old in a win away at Portsmouth and has already scored two goals in pre season.
