Cod Almighty | Diary

The youth team isn't a cash cow, it's to provide first team players

9 September 2020

Basque Diary writes: The boycott ended up being quite difficult last night. Of course, I didn't buy a match pass or anything, but if a 15-year-old knocking one in the top corner on his debut from the bench doesn't bring a smile to your face I'm not sure you're in the right sport.

On that same note, I read with great pleasure how 50 per cent of the squad was home grown, two players of those were current YTs and the other two were current U16s. Anthony Limbrick's seemingly imminent departure worries in that as assistant manager he seems to have re-forged that link between the youth set up and first team that had totally disappeared under Slade II. Admittedly, I haven't done much research into it but I can't recall Holloway being a huge nurturer of home grown talent at his previous clubs so lasts night's development, whether a glorified pre-season friendly or not, was pleasing to see.

As more and more lower league clubs abandon their youth setups and the biggest continue to spread their net further afield, it does beg the question: what is an academy for? As a football club, I believe that a youth team is to provide players for your first team. This may seem blatantly obvious but people forget this. People look at John Oster, Gary Croft and Ryan Bennett and see a cash cow, extending to any future talents coming through. While their hefty transfer will no doubt have come as a great bonus to us, a player going on to play 100+ games for us is, arguably, a much better product.

Besides, even if the highlight is just one first time appearance, surely it is better to have an academy in place for local footballers to aspire to? The skills you learn in an academy - hard work, perseverance, teamwork, taking on board criticism and advice - are all readily transferable skills to the world of work where most aspiring footballers end up.

Fielding a squad which was 50 per cent comprised of home grown talent is something everyone at Grimsby Town should be proud of, and long may it continue.