It was another full week of top fixtures and experiences for The New Saints FC Academy, writes Jason Brindley.
Last Monday, we welcomed Wirral Schoolboys to Park Hall Stadium to face our U10 and U11 age groups.
We look to add as many fixtures as possible to the programme, against a variety of different opposition. We constantly keep on top of the number of minutes each player has played over the course of the season. If you look at the 10,000-hour rule, which is a good guideline for how much is required to master a certain skill element, it’s important that we expose our players to as much football as possible over the course of a season.
Wirral are a fantastic schoolboys association. They have a number of players at top teams and always provide a really good contest. Monday was no different, with two high-level fixtures.
On Wednesday evening, our first-team assistant and head of coaching, Chris Seargeant, delivered a really beneficial and informative CPD event to our Development and Youth team staff. It’s important for us as coaches to continuously learn and develop ourselves. Football is an ever-evolving sport and you can’t stand still for a second.
Action from the under-9s fixture against Stoke RTC
We have a really good, close group of coaches who are always challenging each other in a positive way. It’s important that we mirror the learning environment that we create for the players.
On Saturday morning, our U8s travelled to Wolves Academy to play in their fantastic dome. Our Mini Phase have had an incredible programme this season, with regular fixtures now against the biggest teams in England. It’s great that we can expose our players to this level of football, and give them the opportunity to face this type of opposition and experiences.
Our U8s have come on massively this season, which is really great to see. They are such a fun group too, full of energy and laughter. We are excited to see their continued development.
Back at Park Hall Stadium, our U9-12s welcomed Stoke RTC. The conditions were difficult, with first wind, then rain, and then even snow. Credit to all groups though, it was freezing cold but you couldn’t tell, the boys just got on with it and played their football.
Challenging conditions at Park Hall
We have a good relationship with Stoke RTC, a regional Talent Centre with links to Stoke City FC. We thank them for travelling over for the games.
On Sunday morning, our U14s kicked off proceedings with a home fixture to Walsall. The conditions did play a part, with strong winds throughout. However, despite that, it was a really good game, with both teams creating lots of chances and trying to play the right way. It was a good test for our U14s and another good fixture the lads have played over the past few weeks.
Our U16s followed, hosting Tranmere Rovers. Again it’s been good to add some additional fixtures against football league clubs over the last few months for our eldest Academy age group. This was certainly a game of two halves, with the conditions not dying down. It was a really entertaining fixture, and well done to the players for showing good resilience and determination.
Our U13s finished the weekend, hosting ISFA Midlands. ISFA are similar to Wirral Schools in the fact that they contain a number of players in CAT 1 and 2 clubs. They are always of a high level and standard. It was an excellent showcase game, with proper football played by both teams. It was a really entertaining fixture. Well done to our U13s who have produced some fantastic performances recently.
Our under-14s took on Walsall
As we conclude and reflect and review, it was another top week ticked off. The season has flown by, but it’s been great, it really has. We’re delighted that we seem to be clear of Covid now in terms of lockdowns and setbacks and fingers crossed that remains. It’s just great to be in full swing of things, working daily to drive the programme and to challenge and develop the players.
From looking back at where we started to where we are now, from an individual player’s perspective, you can see how much the lads have grown and added certain areas to their game. The level just increases all of the time. That’s a credit to the staff for the amount of detail and thought process that goes into their planning, but also to the players for embracing everything and wanting to learn.
As we reach the end of February, an eye is already on the spring and summer programme and adding further.
We look forward to a busy week ahead, with games against Telford and Caernarfon, plus tournaments at Everton and West Brom Academy.
Another good challenge against an English Premier League Academy
