Paul Driver has produced an end-of-year report on a successful season for the Rushden & Diamonds Youth Setup.
YOUTH TEAM SUCCESS!!
"Following some difficult decisions at around this time last season about how we should best run the entire youth set up going forward due to the total withdrawal of any form of funding from any outside source, I feel that we approach the end of an exciting season at the club with the feeling that the changes we made were definitely for the best and that the Youth Team and it's individual players have benefited from these changes and have collectively had a successful season.
"After an excellent first campaign in the Football Conference League, the Youth Team have won their regional division with a game to spare and now progress to their own set of play offs with a chance of being the National winner of the competition.
"While the level of competition week in, week out does not currently match what we saw previously in the Puma Alliance League, winning this league is a very respectable achievement for the boys when you consider that it is an Under 19 competition in which, bar a few games along the way where I used matches to prepare for upcoming FA and Midland Youth Cup ties, we have played all of our available Under 17s and completed the line ups with the older Under 18 boys who did not have games for their "work experience" clubs.There have been some big and physical opposition sides for the lads to cope playing against and they have acquitted themselves well in the task.
"Running things in this way and making the second year of a scholars' time with us one where he goes out early "on work experience" has also meant the older boys have got to play in the men's game much sooner than in previous seasons and they have all gained invaluable playing experience with clubs at a decent level in the FA's pyramid and this will undoubtedly benefit them in years to come.The move also enables the Manager to make decisions on a player based on how he has coped with senior football rather than what he was like at youth level and, with these two levels being so vastly different in my opinion, this will mean that we have a much better chance of selecting the right players to bring into the first team set up while giving those that aren't ready for that step a good idea as to where they should be looking to play in the coming seasons.
"From a individual player point of view, the experience that Nabil Shariff and Aynsley McDonald gained this season has helped them progress well and their performances for Wingate, Banbury and Billericay would have gone a long way to convincing The Gaffer to take them on as pros next season. Well done to the two boys on gaining those contracts and also to Aynsley on his debut at Wrexham and call up to the Welsh Under 19s squad.
"To the boys that weren't kept on, I'd like to wish them every success in whatever they do in the future - I have known the majority of the squad since they were Under 13/14s and they are a terrific bunch of lads and it was a horrible time having to let them know that they weren't being retained.
"Back to the performances of the team as a whole and, couple the league success with the fact that we reached the semi final of the Conference League's National Cup and, again, got through to the first round proper of the FA Youth Cup where we put up an excellent showing on the night against a Northampton Town side who are currently vying for the Puma Alliance title with the usual heavyweights like QPR and it's not been a bad season team-wise.
"Additionally, we have reached the final of the Northants Under 18s County Cup using only players from the current Under 16 and 17 squads - i.e. not a single second year scholar has been used. While the early rounds were very easy, the quarter and semi finals have been against good opposition and the latter game against a strong and well run Rothwell Town side (who could well win both their league and cup competitions and who disposed of Peterborough United in a previous round) was an excellent performance for a group so young and this augurs well for next years competitions.
"I'd like to finish by thanking everyone linked either full or part time with the club who have helped and supported me this season with the youth set up.It is run on a absolute shoe string budget and I do have to rely on the generosity of a lot of people who give up much more of their time than they need to do, and I am truly grateful to them for helping me - the list is way too long to go into but I will get to thank you all personally before the season ends, I know.
"Specifically, though, I must mention Starmes who works tirelessly with the Centre of Excellence Squads and The Phys who has looked after the boys so well off the pitch keeping injuries to the barest minimum and he has been a superb touchline companion for the games this season (even if he does use a bit of poetic licence when impersonating my dugout antics).
"Finally, a thanks to Justin and Michael for everything they have done for me and the lads this season from supporting them at games, involving us all in first team sessions and offering support and advice when needed.Thanks to Stoney also, we now have 18 boys that can set up a complete training session using 6 goals, 24 poles, 14 mannequins, 20 hurdles of different sizes, and 78 colour co-ordinated cones...oh, and get the numbers wrong for the session!!.
"Best Wishes to all of the R & D "family""
Drives
