Cod Almighty | Diary

Let the old bring on the young

15 September 2016

Here is an issue that a real 'whole game solution' would address: how are clubs in the lower reaches of the Football League to develop their young players?

Grimsby's latest attempt at an answer is the familiar one: Harry Clifton has joined Northern Premier League side Grantham Town on a month's loan. What will he learn there? He'll get game time, and first-team game time. That means more match time in a more intense situation.

It's a common messageboard assumption he'll be 'toughened up' by the experience. Middle-Aged Diary watches a lot of football at the Grantham level and it's rarely rough and tough. The pace is slower, and direct tactics are fairly rare. But there is still scope for mis-education. Pitches aren't as good, and players aren't all as good. Clifton's appreciation of a well-judged pass is hardly likely to flourish if he watches his best effort bobble up off a divot or flip from the toe of a size 12 boot.

The Mariners Trust is seeking views on a crowdfunding intitiative to help finance our youth set-up. That is, definitely, the right thing to do. But let's hope that discussions are taking place about how we can improve the process that turns a youth team player into a squad member, and a squad member into a player who the manager is confident can help win must-win matches.

Town's successes in this department have been few and far between over the last decade. That is not to place the blame at Paul Hurst's door. Neil Woods knew the strengths and weaknesses of our young players better than anyone, and didn't want to expose them to the stresses of a fight for Football League survival. The irony was that the alternative was, and often still is, to give game time to the young hopefuls stuck in the academies of second-flight teams, rather than our own.

It needs, at least, a 'whole club solution'. Perhaps part of the answer is in all of us refining what we mean when we say 'must-win'. Next May, will we call this season a success if, despite having not attained promotion, we end it with Clifton, Josh Venney and Max Wright firmly established as tools in our armoury rather than people to be given the occasional run-out? It goes without saying that part of that solution involves us being prepared to applaud intent in the hope of encouraging more effective execution.

Loans out, in any case, don't seem to be an option that Hurst is actively seeking. In a bullish interview for the Telegraph, he expresses confidence in the squad as a whole and delight at the capture of Danny Collins.

Having a 36-year-old Welsh international (much the best kind of international, as events over the summer demonstrated) playing and training with the squad is a bit of a throwback. Think about Trevor Whymark and Kevin Drinkell, Paul Futcher and Peter Handyside, and you can't help wondering if, counter-intuitively, it is old players we need to bring the young ones through.

The themes discussed in this diary are the fruits of a discussion between most of the Cod Almighty diarists - my thanks for their inspiration. Youth development is a topic we'll be returning to, so if you have any thoughts on the subject, let us know.